This article is recommended for individuals at any stage of their careers
Don't miss out on your dream job
Having spent years in the field of recruitment, I understand the impact your online presence can have on your future job prospects. While social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, it's also an invaluable tool used by recruiters in the screening process.
According to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder, it was found that 70% of employers actively use social media sites to research candidates. Of that 70%, 57% admitted to finding content that stopped them from proceeding with a candidate's application.
In this article, I'm going to take a closer look at why recruiters look at social media and the type of content they are looking for. Plus, I'm going to provide you some advice on how to reflect the best version of yourself online.
Why do recruiters look at social media?
Social media can be a valuable source of unfiltered information, providing recruiters with insight into a candidate’s interests, personality, and values.
In the survey conducted by CareerBuilder, 31% of recruiters cited an instance where the candidate’s social media reflected a good personal fit with the company culture which, in turn, led to them being hired.
Social media screening is also a great way for recruiters to see the passion candidates have for their field. A public Facebook account showing off graphic design skills or a marketing blog are two examples of people who are passionate about their field. This is great for recruiters to see and suggests the candidate will bring that passion into their next job.
Additionally, screening social media is a good way for recruiters to check how prepared the candidate is. You should always assume your social media can be seen by a future employer. Consequently, you should ensure that all public content is clean and professional. Anything you do not want a potential employer to see needs to be hidden under relevant privacy settings.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure that all your social media only reflects the best version of you - you don’t want to give the wrong impression.
Things to avoid on your social media profiles
For recruiters that use social media as a screening tool, some of the content that would stop them from proceeding with a candidate's application includes:
Other factors that may cause them to reject an application include the candidate having an inappropriate or offensive username or posting too frequently on one or more platforms.
How to reflect the best version of yourself
So, what can you do to broadcast the best version of you for social media screening?
A good way to prepare your social media for being screened is to log out of all social media and Google yourself. This allows you to see how you appear to an outsider which, in turn, gives you the opportunity to fix anything that you would not be comfortable revealing to a potential employer.
It is important for you to be professional online and be aware of what others are saying about you. Anywhere your name is mentioned - employers can find it. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your privacy settings are set up in such a way so that an outsider cannot see what you are tagged and mentioned in. Facebook allows you to set your profile up in such a way so that any posts you are tagged in have to be approved by you before they show up on your feed. A funny photo to you and your friends might not be as amusing to a potential employer.
Above all, you should continue to maintain and check your social profile regularly, even after you are hired. Make sure that your online presence is professional and be proactive about what you post. Therefore, when the time comes for your profile to be checked, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
If you're interested in learning more about setting up your social media accounts, click the button below to read our article on how to get a job using LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a job?
Now that you know whether recruiters look at social media, you should take a moment to check our current vacancies page.
At 11 Recruitment, we have a range of white-collar temp and perm jobs available. We're always on the lookout for top talent to place with our clients, so we encourage you to apply for any positions that are of interest.
If none of our current vacancies are right for you, you should register for job alerts. Then we’ll be able to notify you when we receive a position that matches your profile.
What are your thoughts?
I'd love to have a conversation with you about this topic - please leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or opinions 🙂
Christian Madsen
Managing Director of 11 Recruitment
Absolutely! As a recruiter, I always check candidates’ social media. It provides insights beyond the resume, showcasing professionalism, cultural fit, and digital presence. It’s a valuable hiring tool!
Hi Rushali, it’s always great to hear from others working in the industry! I couldn’t agree with you more about social media providing insight beyond the resume. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂