Social media - the 21st century job search tool

In a world that thrives on the use of the internet and is buzzing with a variety of social media platforms allowing you to chat, sell, buy and overshare, is it any surprise that it has become increasingly common to also use social media to search for a job? And with 92% of companies using social media for recruiting, it really is the 21st century job-search tool.

Social media is a primary vehicle of communication today and with so much information well categorised and made public, it’s the obvious place for recruiters, employers and job hunters alike to go to find exactly what they’re looking for.  89% of job seekers use social media sites daily to research company profiles, while three out of four companies check a possible candidate’s online profile before making their final decision. This means you must know how to use your social media accounts to their best abilities, ensuring that profiles are up to date and professional and that when it comes to the search, you know what you’re looking for.

If your profile is public, make sure it’s professional

The good news is, when companies browse your social media profile, they’re looking for things that could work to your advantage. Whether or not you would fit in with their company culture, if your background supports your qualifications and in some cases, to read references.  These are all reasons why an employee would search your profile, so it can be beneficial for you to keep your profile open. However, it is imperative that if your profile is not private, it must be professional.

This does not mean that you should focus on hiding or removing content that might be deemed inappropriate, but rather that you should work on building a strong social network and create online profiles that represent your skills and experience. If you’re silent or invisible online, it could be a disadvantage, so build your digital footprint. Engaging more on social media will increase your search ability and popularity is key. Tweet articles of interest, join LinkedIn groups you find inspiring and post intelligent opinions on your Facebook page. 55% of the employers who scan social media profiles said what they have found has caused them to hire the candidate.

Search, search, search

Don’t spend all of your time assuring your profiles are ready to be browsed by potential employers and forget that you can search them too. By searching companies or employers, you can get an understanding of the type of employee they are looking to hire, enabling you to know what to share or hide and also giving you an idea or where conversation in an interview could lead and how you could tailor your cover letter.

You can also improve your odds of finding a job online by looking past the well-known job sites and searching for jobs on company Twitter feeds, Facebook pages and conducting either a general or specific search on LinkedIn.

Whether you are entering employment for the first time or looking to get back into work after a prolonged period of unemployment, engaging in social media is great first step to making contacts and finding a job.

What helps you on social media

Research also showed that employers mentioned certain information that would make a candidate more attractive or support the hiring decision to a job offer.

• Conveying a professional image
• Demonstrating a wide range of interests
• Background information supported personal qualifications
• Candidates demonstrating creativity
• The use of excellent communication skills and grammar on Social Media profiles

What to avoid on social media

These recruiters might check social media profiles to identify how you behave in the outside world and research information that isn’t readily available on your CV.  However, some employers found certain information that meant candidates application were disregarded, with 1/3 hiring managers rejecting candidates’ social profiles.

Common areas that recruiters have identified negatively on profiles are;

• Sexual content or inappropriate images
• Spelling and grammatical errors
• Alcohol consumption

Renovo is the UK’s leading specialist provider of outplacement and career transition support. We work with both organisations and individuals to support all their career transition requirements. If you would like to understand how Renovo can help you please call 0800 612 2011 or email info@renovo.co.uk