According to a recent CareerBuilders survey of 2,600 hiring managers, almost half use online social networking sites to research job candidates. Yesterday we looked at the types of content that will cause an employer not to hire a candidate. In this post we look at the types of online content that can get you hired.
Social media provide job seekers a means of advertising their skills and experience, and 18 percent of employers reported they found content on social networking sites that caused them to hire a candidate. Top examples:
- Profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization – 50 percent
- Profile supported candidate’s professional qualifications – 39 percent
- Candidate was creative – 38 percent
- Candidate showed solid communication skills – 35 percent
- Candidate was well-rounded – 33 percent
- Other people posted good references about the candidate – 19 percent
- Candidate received awards and accolades – 15 percent
DOs and DON’Ts to keep a positive image online:
- DO clean up digital dirt BEFORE you begin your job search. Remove photos, content and links that could work against you in an employer’s eyes.
- DO consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or BrightFuse.com to establish relationships with thought leaders, recruiters and potential referrals.
- DO keep gripes offline. Keep content focused on the positive, whether that relates to professional or personal information. Make sure to highlight specific accomplishments inside and outside of work.
- DON’T forget that others can see your friends, so be selective about who you accept as friends. Monitor comments made by others. Consider using the “block comments” feature or setting your profile to “private” so only designated friends can view it.
- DON’T mention your job search if you’re still employed.