Social media is quickly becoming one of the main platforms for business interactions. Social media networking provides more opportunities for you to promote your own personal brand and make connections, but there are now many new rules of etiquette that you must be aware of. An online mistake lasts forever and you could potentially destroy your brand and ruin your chances of landing the job you desire. With employers now using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to recruit, it is important to recognize how to be successful in social networking.
Who's Using It
90 percent of U.S. companies are using social media as a recruiting tool
69 percent of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on the content of one of their social media profiles
68 percent of recruiters have hired candidates due to their presence in a social network
More than 70 percent of jobs are found through networking
Most common social networks used to screen candidates:
Use your real name and a professional, appropriate profile photo
Do not mix business and pleasure
If necessary, have separate profiles, accounts and blogs for personal and professional use
Use proper grammar and correct spelling in all of your online writing
Remember that even if you think you have the highest privacy settings, there is still a chance that anyone can see what you post
A woman lost her job because she said she had a migraine and had to stay in a dark room, but was caught later that day updating her Facebook page
A job candidate for Cisco tweeted about being offered a job, but that he would hate the work. A Cisco employee saw it and reported it to the hiring manager
Even if you choose to use Facebook socially rather than professionally, do not post anything that you would not want to see on a billboard
Employers range in what they are looking for. Some may wish to see:
You have a sense of humor
You are mature (no inappropriate photos, behavior or posts, such as publicly fighting with a friend)
Your writing skills and that you are using proper grammar in your posts
Your interests
The most important thing in your profiles is to show that you are mature
Do not post photos of yourself or others drinking or partying, even if you are 21
Do not send application or game requests to people and avoid obnoxious status updates and tweets
Jump to Content
