Most of our content is very much aimed at the recruiter not the job seeker but recently I’ve had a number of conversations, around this topic, with recruiters who are also looking for a new job themselves. If you have been job hunting for a while and are wondering where you’re going wrong or how to improve, it’s time to consider a social media strategy.
When this article from BCL Legal came across my desk I thought it might be rather pertinent for anyone on the market to consider how social media is affecting their job search.
Social media can play a crucial role in job searches. It gives you an opportunity to remain up-to-date with the businesses you would want to be employed within and quickly identify the right vacancies.
Employers also use social media during the recruitment process to get a better understanding of candidates. So, what are these employers looking for when viewing social media profiles, and what can deter them from offering a candidate an interview or job?
Showcase your personality through social media channels
Around 40% of employers use social media profiles to discover more about candidates. With many businesses hiring based on people’s compatibility with the company culture, 35% of surveyed businesses have chosen not to recruit someone because of their social media profile.
While it’s wise to steer clear of uploading photos or videos from wild nights out, it’s important for your personality to shine through by showcasing your hobbies and passions, as your character could be the difference between you and a competing candidate securing the role.
To avoid any hiccups, review your social media profiles and add a hint of professionalism before applying for further jobs, or alternatively make changes to your privacy settings.
Lies or exaggerations – could they cost you the job?
While many won’t admit to it, large proportions of job seekers lie about or exaggerate their skills, qualifications or experience in their social media ‘about me’ sections.
The odd embellishment may not have a huge impact on how an employer views your application, but lying can have serious consequences. While to you it may seem like a white lie, making false statements about qualifications can be classed as fraud. If you promote fake credentials on your social media profiles, employers can then choose to research your background. When it is found that the qualifications are false, this can cost you the job and potentially have legal repercussions.
If you want to improve your profile and applications in order to stand out from the crowd, invest time into gaining extra skills and experience, rather than conjuring up false statements.
Shout out about your experience
When you are invited to an interview, it is usually because an employer wants to find out more before choosing whether or not to hire you. Similarly to an interview, potential employers can also look at social media to learn about you and your industry background.
Rather than keeping quiet about skills, qualifications or experience, be sure to shout out about them by including as much detail as possible, particularly on LinkedIn and Facebook. When deciding on what information to include on your profiles, think about what an employer could ask in an interview and add details that start to answer these questions.
Join in the conversation
While keeping your profiles detailed and up to date is crucial, networking and positioning yourself as an industry expert across social platforms is also important.
Holding back on work related details is wise, but keeping quiet and not getting involved in group conversations can hinder your chances of being offered a job. Employers may perceive this as a lack of industry knowledge or an unwillingness to contribute to discussions.
Join in conversations within industry specific social groups on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to help you put your name out there amongst peers and fellow professionals. This can also allow you to strengthen your industry knowledge and help to spark interesting conversations during interviews.
Updating your social media profiles may not feel like a priority in the first stages of your job search, but ignoring them could be discouraging employers from interviewing you. So before you apply for any more vacancies, take the time make the necessary changes to your profile in order to be one step closer to getting those all important job offers.
Rachel Campbell is a content writer for BCL Legal, specialist legal recruiters situated throughout the UK, offering expert legal knowledge and recruitment services, and placing more legal candidates than any other recruiter.
