When decision makers are considering you for a position, they use your cover letter, resume and an interview to figure out who you are. They want to know what qualifies you for the job, what your goals and values are, and whether you are someone who exhibits professionalism inside–and outside–the company’s walls. That is a lot to figure out solely using your cover letter, resume and interview. Therefore, these same decision-makers turn to social media to get a bigger picture of who you are.
It is estimated that 70% of employers check out candidates on social media. Therefore, whatever you post–pictures and comments–can impact your chances of landing a job you want. What you post affects your reputation, and, in a society where more and more people have a long history of documenting their lives online, it is imperative to your career that your social media profiles reflect your values and do not contain any incriminating evidence you would not want your future boss to see.
What Does Your Social Media Say About You?
A survey conducted by GoDaddy suggests that the top five things hiring managers consider when investigating a candidate’s profile are:
- Discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc.
- Professionalism
- Negative comments about a previous employer or co-worker
- Inappropriate photos or videos
- Drug use
With this knowledge, how do your social media profiles–yes, all of them, but especially your professional profiles–measure up?
These points of interest reveal that decision-makers want to know and understand your values, and they want to assess whether your personal brand aligns with the values of the organization. How do you respond in stressful situations? Are you someone who can consciously take the high road? Can you decipher between appropriate and inappropriate? Are you someone who can uphold the company brand and mission statement?
If you have not taken the time to ensure your social media profiles accurately reflect who you are and your values, then it is time to do so. After all your hard work, it would be a shame if social media was the reason you were passed over for a job that would be perfect for you.
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