Your Online Appearance
Selfies and funny quotes will get lots of interaction from your friends on social media, but what is it doing for your possible employment? You may think there’s nothing wrong with what you post online. The reality is that many employers are looking at your profiles to get an idea of whether they want you on their team or not. Your funny post may have made someone decide you aren’t the right person for the job.
When 300 people, who are involved with the hiring process for their companies, were interviewed by Reppler, the response was pretty eye-opening. A whopping 91% of them said they use social media sites to screen prospective employees. Almost half of those check on social media before meeting a candidate in an interview. Sixty-nine percent said they have rejected an applicant based on what they saw on a networking site. Inappropriate photos and comments, the content of the candidate drinking or doing drugs, negative comments about a previous employer, and poor communication skills were all high on the list of reasons for disqualifications. Highest, though, was lying about qualifications. Only 7% of the 300 said they have never rejected a candidate based on social media information.
On the flip side, 68% have HIRED people based on what they saw online. They got a positive impression of the personality and organizational fit of the person who applied. The profile supported their professional qualifications, showed creativity, and a well-rounded person.
The bottom line is that what you put out there about yourself matters if you are in the job market. Being cautious about what you post or comment could be the difference between a job and unemployment.
Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂