Times change and do so at an impressive pace! Video streaming threatens to eventually replace cinemas; headless eCommerce is about to supersede the traditional one; social media have already become the major place for talent seeking… and checking candidates’ profiles. According to recent studies, 84% of companies are currently recruiting via social media, and about 70% are using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to scrutinize candidates before hiring.
Therefore, it’s time to brush up your profiles so that you look professionally and personally attractive to your potential hirer. This guide will be wholesome not only for those who are actively searching for a new job but for everybody indeed. Firstly, employers tend to observe the online activity of their current staff. Secondly, you never know when and where you can score your dream job. So, be fully prepared!
Step 1: Revise Your Social Media Accounts
Recruiters extract important insights about your professional capabilities and personal traits from social media. That’s why the best variant is to consider your profiles as platforms for self-branding.
It does not necessarily mean that you have to post only expert content and photos in suits instead of holiday impressions. We’d recommend saving the authentic style that defines you as an individual and makes your accounts lively, relaxed, and appealing for followers. Of course, do not pretend to be a completely different person from who you are, in fact. Just be aware that employers are likely to look through your feeds.
You may think now that it would be safer to keep all social media private. This strategy hasn’t proven its efficiency, though: about 57% of employers are reluctant to invite to an interview those who aren’t represented online. In the 2020s it really seems like you have something to hide, isn’t it?
Thus, let’s roll! To begin with, imagine the perfect employer for you and examine your major online presence platforms. Then answer these questions are:
- your profiles public? If not, why?
- all your public messages tolerant?
- all your photos appropriate (including those where you’ve been tagged by others)?
- there some offensive comments towards your previous employers?
- your posts correct in terms of grammar?
Okay, we’ve just outlined the possible ways for improvement. Let’s dive a bit deeper and consider some particular do’s and don’ts.
Step 2: Get Rid of Inappropriate Content
If you want to raise the chances to be hired to the maximum, abide by the basic principles regarding content shared publicly. So, below there is a list of things that we do not recommend you to do/post on the internet.
- Post false data, misleading info, and too controversial concepts. We mean something like Covid dissidence, anti-vaccination calls, and conspiracy theories. Such odious views might scare away most adequate recruiters.
- Share provocative photos and videos. Adhere to the simple rule: if you can’t show them to your mom, refrain from showing them on the internet.
- Post anything about contentious or even illegal activities like heavy drinking, being drunk, or using drugs. Even though in several countries some drugs are permitted, it doesn’t contribute favorably to your professional image.
- Boast about your arrest or anything criminal-related.
- Write any insulting posts or comments towards any group of people. It goes without saying that discrimination is utterly unacceptable no matter what form it takes.
- Lie about your skills and achievements. Everything might be checked either during the interview or even beforehand.
- Plagiarize or misappropriate someone else’s accomplishments. Again, it’s easy to fact-check. This can leave a big stain on your professional reputation.
- Scold your previous hirers and colleagues. However, we think that sensible criticism is pertinent.
- Disclose confidential data from your former employers. Showing disrespect for the previous employer is a “red flag” for a potential one.
- Write with spelling mistakes and swear in posts or comments. The basic etiquette rules are forever fashionable.
- Post too often. Just in case, some find it irritating and slightly weird.
If your publications contain something from the listed above, then it could be better to either hide or delete them. Facebook has the most flexible options that allow you to determine the status of every post: for the public, friends, only you, etc. On Twitter and Instagram, the only way out is deleting.
Step 3: Present Yourself as a Pro
Now let’s move on to the more pleasant matter of enhancing your social media image. Some of these tips and ideas will help to strengthen your reputation as a smart, thoughtful, modern, and initiative person.
- Share signs of competency and passion for your job: case studies, insights, advice, achievements, and your professional awards. If you’re a marketer, share your successful recent campaign and explain how it was born. Make Stories while you’re at a conference or recommend others a webinar/course/book in your field that you were happy to watch/pass/read.
- Choose a professional photo for your profile to look more solid and confident.
- Be yourself: if you’re a volunteer, skateboarder, and really into electro guitars, these only underline your beautiful personality and cause interest. Moreover, it could be helpful to draw the attention of companies that fit into your mindset. For example, if you use only ethical cosmetics, those who test components on animals won’t bother you.
- Be subscribed to social media accounts of companies that you see as your potential employers. And don’t be shy to interact with them if there’s an occasion.
- Do your networking greatly: try to address all questions and comments, offer your assistance, involve more people in interesting discussions by mentioning them, and communicate politely.
- Subscribe to professional groups and try not to miss important events in your industry: presentations, seminars, conferences, workshops, and so forth.
- Share articles, tweets, and posts of those who you respect as a pro. But keep it balanced, do not overwhelm your feed with endless reposts.
- Always proofread publications prior to posting. Mistakes tend to occur even in the content of the smartest people, but they spoil the impression a bit.
On the whole, being proactive and initiative guarantee you better visibility for HRs and more points in favor of hiring you. Finally, let’s discuss the powerful tool for employee representation and the beloved harbor of recruiters: LinkedIn.
Step 4: Upgrade Your LinkedIn
Image credit: Unsplash
LinkedIn is unsurprisingly regarded as the main social media source for HRs, followed by Facebook and Twitter. In this section, we’ll give several tips on how to enhance your profile there.
1. Make It Complete
It takes a lot of time to put everything in order on your page, but it’s definitely a worthwhile undertaking. Let’s start from the basics:
- Opt for a photo of professional quality.
- Download all relevant diplomas and certificates.
- Add your full professional background and mention your responsibilities as well as significant achievements. Omit working experience irrelevant to your field in order not to divert recruiters from the main points of your career path.
- Write a convincing introduction in the “About” section. We’d advise to keep it quite concise: three to five sentences are enough. Highlight your core knowledge and skill set, leadership and networking capabilities, as well as career aspirations.
- Fill in the “Featured” section (your best posts, documents, media, and websites).
- Be “outgoing” on LinkedIn. The “Activity” section (posts that you created, shared, or commented on in the last months) will underpin your reputation.
LinkedIn tracks your profile strength and prompts you what to put attention to. Your ultimate goal is to reach All-Star status. As the platform promises, then you’ll be receiving more profile views and more relevant feed updates.
2. Expand Your Network
This is another significant in-built option that you can leverage. Press the “Connect” button to reach people you already work with or just know and accept invitations from others.
By connecting with more pros in your industry, you can get acquainted with their networks that are displayed publicly. Thus, you’re getting more and more visible to potential hirers.
3. Exchange References
Explore two more wholesome functions of LinkedIn. Recommendations by leading staff and peers are a valuable resource for you, so don’t be shy to ask for them. Besides this, you can gain endorsements from colleagues who can confirm the particular skills you’ve listed on a separate section of the page.
That’s it! As you’ve finished, have a rest and then start your preparation for the interviews that might be assigned very soon.
Conclusion
Human resources departments of worthwhile companies can afford to be extremely picky when choosing new team members. At the end of the day, it’s often important for a business to find a perfect match not only in a narrow professional sense but also in terms of values. That’s why checking social media has become so pervasive.
Your wise approach to social media remarkably improves the odds of being noticed. Bear in mind three key points: build a personal brand, expand networking, and avoid “red flags”. These principles, together with constant self-development and professional growth in line with the latest trends, will definitely aid you to stand out from the crowd in terms of career prospects.
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About the Author
Kate Parish
Kate Parish is the Chief Marketing Officer at Onilab with over 8 years of experience in Digital Marketing in the sphere of eCommerce web development. Kate always aspires to broaden her competency in line with cutting-edge global trends. Her primary areas of professional interest include SEO, branding, PPC, SMM, Magento PWA development, and online retail in general.
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Featured image by Unsplash
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