Social Media Basics
- Most people use social media to communicate
- It can be a fantastic tool to connect with people personally and professionally
- Many employers are now using social media sites to promote opportunities and screen candidates
How do Employers Use Social Media?
鈥婣ccording to a recent study of 1600 employers conducted by Jobvite:
- 94% of recruiters use or plan to use social media in their recruitment efforts
- 78% of recruiters have made a hire through social media
- Of those recruiters that use social media, 94% use LinkedIn, 65% use Facebook, and 55% use Twitter
How Employers Respond to Candidate's Social Media
- 92% of recruiters used LinkedIn to vet candidates pre-interview, and 31% use Facebook to vet candidates pre-interview.
- In addition, 35% use Facebook to vet candidates post-interview, and 18% use Twitter to vet candidates post-interview
- When employers were asked how they would react to possible items discovered upon reviewing a candidate鈥檚 social network profile, employers responded most negatively to references to doing illegal drugs, posts/tweets of a sexual nature, profanity in posts, spelling/grammatical errors, references to guns and picture of consumption of alcohol
What this Means for You
- Assume everything you post can be accessed by an observer
- Ensure that your privacy and security settings are on maximum, and be selective as to who you accept as a friend or follower
- You may wish to alter your name on social media tools that you would not want an employer to find you on (typically Facebook, others as well)
- Online information can be saved/cached and it鈥檚 very difficult to delete anything that you post online
- You need to keep your profiles updated, positive, and professional
- Avoid posting anything negative about your employers or colleagues
- Ask yourself 鈥渉ow would I defend this post in an interview?鈥 before you post anything
- Keep all pictures online respectable. They don鈥檛 all have to be professional but be aware that what you post or what your friends post could be connected to you in a visible way
LinkedIn Tips
Profile
- Have a complete profile that you update regularly
- Ensure that your header statement quickly captures your goals and what you have to offer
- Clearly articulate your duties for any position
- Have a professional looking headshot
- Ensure that your privacy setting allows employers to find you
Networking
- Add all of your professional contacts
- Personalize every LinkedIn request message
- Behave online as you would inperson. Always use please and thank you!
Sign up for the AA&CC LinkedIn Job Search workshop and set-up an appointment with a career counsellor or career strategist.
Last update: September 2014