When was the last time you cleaned up your act? Your social media act, that is. If it’s been a while, then, based on recent research, you need to move a social media clean-up to the top of your job hunt to-do list.
A recent Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals found more than 6 in 10 employers believe checking job candidates’ social media is an effective screening tool. And, an even higher percentage of employers report currently utilizing social media sites to research applicants. That means it’s likely your social media profiles will get some extra views during your job search. So, here are five steps you can take to get your social media presence in tip-top shape:
So, here are five steps you can take to get your social media presence in tip-top shape:
Check for objectionable content.
According to an article from Business News Daily, potential employers are primarily looking for “red flags that include the sharing of illegal activities, offensive comments, violent or aggressive behavior, sexually explicit material, and confidential information.” You’ll want to review your profiles for anything that could give a hiring manager pause, including your own posts, pictures you’ve posted, articles you’ve shared, items you were tagged in, and others’ comments.
Inspect your privacy settings.
For your personal social media accounts, make sure your privacy levels are where you want them to be. The higher the level, the less likely a potential employer will see something they don’t like.
Bulk up that LinkedIn profile.
While you might be deleting content and raising privacy settings on your other social media accounts, you should be doing the opposite on your LinkedIn page. You want to include all the applicable information possible, keep it up-to-date, interact with other professionals on the platform, and ensure you’re easy to find.
Get someone else’s opinion.
Once you’ve gone through everything, ask a friend or family member to review your social media pages. Or, if you know someone else on the job hunt, offer to review their social accounts in exchange for them reviewing yours. Having another set of eyes can give you a fresh perspective and help you see what a hiring manager will see.
Keep it clean.
Now that you’ve done all that work, make sure your profiles remain clean. Monitor what you and others are posting on your pages, and when in doubt, leave it out. There’s no point in risking losing out on a great job opportunity because of an objectionable post.
Now, before you start feeling too paranoid, the same survey from The Harris Poll and Express Employment Professionals also found that about “half of U.S. hiring managers report they have never found content on a social media site that caused them not to hire a candidate.” However, don’t take any chances when it comes to landing that new position. With companies routinely screening job candidates’ social media accounts, it’s worth the time and effort to ensure your social media profiles don’t hinder your job hunt.
