Employers are increasingly scanning social media profiles as a way to vet job candidates. | Freepik
Nkosinathi Mahlangu
WHEN it comes to job-hunting, social media can be a double-edged sword. For young people who have graduated or are looking for employment, there’s no doubt that having an online presence is important - some might even say critical.
Not only can social media be a valuable tool in helping you discover career opportunities, it can also assist in your personal and professional brand-building. A survey among more than 2000 hiring managers and human resource professionals by recruitment site, CareerBuilder, revealed that two in five companies browse candidates’ social media profiles to evaluate their character. When respondents were asked what they were looking for, 65% said they did it to see if the job-seeker “presented themselves professionally”, while 51% wanted to see if the candidate would be a “good cultural fit”. Some said they used social media to determine whether the candidate was “well-rounded”.
Engagement benefits
There are many benefits to using social media when looking for employment. Job-hunters can follow experts or organisations on social media within their desired industry or career path of choice, which may create opportunities for networking or engagement.
In addition, they can follow recruitment groups where vacancies might be regularly advertised to keep abreast of job opportunities. Social media also provides you with a platform to establish your professional profile.
Without any social media use or presence, it’s very difficult to keep your finger on the pulse of the job market.
Reasons for caution
On the flip side, misuse of social media can sabotage your career prospects – at the click of a “post” button.
In CareerBuilder’s survey, around a third of employers who scan social media profiles when considering job candidates claimed to have found content that prevented them from employing someone. About 45% said they didn’t hire someone because they saw evidence of drinking and/ or drug use, while around 50% of employers said provocative or inappropriate photos stopped them from hiring. Other reasons cited included social media evidence of poor communication skills, badmouthing previous employers, discrimination or bigotry, and falsifying qualifications and experience.
Job-seekers are warned to be cautious. Although your social media persona may not have mattered much while you were at school or university, it can severely hinder your employability prospects when you start looking for employment. Be wary of posting offensive comments or images that might create a negative impression or go against professional values.
There is no such thing as a completely private social media profile. In the age of the screenshot, if it’s online, you can assume that the world might see it. This also applies to comments you make on other posts. The rule is: if you wouldn’t put it on a public billboard, don’t publish it on social media.
Savvy tips
It is important to be social media-savvy. Here are some tips for job-seekers who want to leverage social media to help them achieve their career goals.
* Mahlangu is head of youth employment at Momentum Metropolitan