Social Media Will Impact Your Job Search!

You just came back from a long weekend and it is raining outside. You are sitting at your desk and decide that it’s time to make a career change. As mentioned in Looking For a New Job? Focus Your Time blog, there are often hundreds of applicants for a single position, so it is imperative that anyone in search mode make the most of their job search activities to improve their odds of landing their desired job. Here are a few things to consider as you begin your search process.

Your social media profile is increasingly important. A recent CareerBuilder study reported that 70% of potential employers are screening potential hires via their social media profiles. In addition, 30% of HR Departments have permanent social recruiters. Make sure your social profile is carefully crafted and reviewed to ensure it doesn’t contain anything you don’t want a potential employer to see. Currently, 54% of social media profiles negatively impact an applicant’s ability to be hired. Of the 44% whose social media profiles positively impact them in the hiring process, the primary reasons are professional presentation, good communication skills, and creativity. Potential employers are paying attention to how engaged you are in your industry – sharing industry news, interacting with industry thought leaders, and being praised by clients and coworkers.

Another tip is to search yourself on Google – you may be surprised at the search results. If the results you see are concerning, you may want to reach out to one of the online reputation services to determine options for improving the search results.

As you make your career plans this year, be sure that your social profile is as clear and concise as possible to make a positive impression – it will make a difference!