If you have been applying for new jobs with no luck, it could be that your social media is to blame.
Today, we enjoy a diverse range of social media platforms that allow us to be more connected than ever before. However, this wider online presence is a doubled-edged sword. Yes, we can enjoy more connected digital relationships, but it also means we are more visible.
For your job search, this has big implications. Any potential employer now can research its applicants, using more than just the submitted CV to determine suitability for the role.
They can research you, and they do.
Overwhelmingly, it’s the case that employers check over the social media feeds of candidates before they offer any sort of interview. Only 20% of large organisations, 27% of medium-sized companies, and 40% of small enterprises said they wouldn’t check candidate social channels.
According to employer data from 2017, one in three employers has rejected candidates based on something they have found online. Additionally, YouGov found that 36% of UK employers did the same based on their social media profiles alone.
Since these studies were conducted, social media has boomed. Platforms such as TikTok have exploded, giving employers even more of an opportunity to conduct unofficial pre-screen checks. Your professionalism, company fit, and personal conduct can all be assessed to determine your employability.
The Social Tattoo.
Research shows that we’ve all got a social network presence of some kind. Once we create this digital fingerprint, it’s difficult to erase.
However, there are ways in which you can make your profile work for you and help you lift your career prospects.
How to start cleaning up your social media profile.
Your profile picture.
A picture speaks a thousand words, so your profile picture needs to be appropriate. Of course, you may like to tailor your profile picture according to the social platform in question. For example, your LinkedIn profile picture should be professional, while your Facebook or Instagram picture could be more relaxed.
However, think about the image of yourself you want to project. Look at your shots through the eyes of a professional, and ask yourself, “Does this picture reflect a future employee?”
Curate your feed.
Have a look back through your feed. Edit or remove any content that is inappropriate. This includes written content as well as photographic content. Apply the same professional standard that you would expect if you were hiring someone to work for you.
Untag yourself from others’ feeds.
You should also untag yourself from any inappropriate content on your friends’ profiles. Although your friends may have tagged you without any bad intent, potential employers will still see them in a poor light.
Up to date bio.
Many of your social media profiles were probably set up years ago. As a result, your bio may well be out of date. You should consider making sure your bio and general information be interesting, accurate, and representational of who you are now.
Check for errors.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors are off-putting to employers. Data suggests that 56% of employers wouldn’t hire an applicant if their social media posts showed regular simple errors.
Keep it clean.
When it comes to written content, one of the main red flags is swearing. 75% of employers said bad language would discourage them from hiring someone.
An insight into your character.
One of the very positive things about social media is that it gives outsiders an insight into your passions and what matters to you; it is a window into your life. Perhaps you do regular charity work? Perhaps you volunteer? Maybe you enjoy running or have interesting hobbies. You could be re-training or learning a new skill.
These are all attributes that are attractive to employers and provide you with great positive content that can only support your application. You can curate your profile to demonstrate integrity and responsibility.
Highlight your skills.
You can use your social media to underline any work you have done that supports your career. Have you written professional articles, or had work published? Have you completed any interesting side projects you could draw attention to from your social feeds? If so, make sure you include links potential employers can follow to find your work.
Clean up your links.
If you use your social media to promote or highlight any additional projects, such as a blog you should also make sure any linked content is as clean as your feed is. This is especially true if it relates to your professional work.
Look over it with the same professional eye as before. Your spelling, grammar, and language are all open to criticism by any future employer.
Showcase your communication skills.
Insightful commentary on your posts or exchanges with others is a great way to showcase your industry knowledge and communication skills.
As with all your other written content, be sure your grammar, spelling, and language are on point.
Communication is a soft skill that is a desirable asset and difficult to teach. Potential employers will spot it, and it will demonstrate that you would be a great addition to the organisation
Edit your usernames or handles.
Make sure your username or handle isn’t offering a negative impression. Keep it simple and professional.
Google yourself.
If you truly want to uncover your digital fingerprint, then run a Google search on yourself to see what comes up. Try to cover as many bases as possible with different variables on your identity. For example, your name and location; your name and profession; your name and job title.
Your social media has the potential to trip you up or enhance your presence and employability. You can make it work for you if you look at each platform through the lens of your next employer.
Think about what you would think if it were your company, and you were thinking about employing you. Don’t lose out on a job opportunity because of some old photos or a misguided comment from a few years ago.
