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Long gone are the times when social media were used only for the entertaining purposes. Today, we use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and similar platforms to do business. By this I mean not simply promoting or selling products online. You may be surprised but big and small companies are now paying more and more attention to the online reputation of their potential employees. Of course, you can also take advantage of the media and analyze the Internet image of your dream employer. For instance, reading other employees` feedback, comments of stakeholders, etc. can save you the trouble of falling into a trap.
However, consider that all employers are as curious about your reputation as you are curious about theirs. Thus, apart from polishing your cover letter and resume, do your best to ensure that your online reputation is impeccable as well. Below is the list of the most important aspects that can be crucial while making a decision about your possible employment.
They Will Analyze Your Online Presence
Remember that there are some good websites designed for job hunting. Creating a profile there raises your chances of getting employed since you will be the first to know about the vacancies. Firstly, such engines give you an opportunity of position search. This means that you can publish the relevant information about your professional skills online and the website will send your offers as soon as they appear. Secondly, modern companies look for the employers with advanced computer skills and by creating an account in, let`s say, LinkedIn, you show that you keep up with time and are aware of the advantages of the digital media.
Professional Posts in LinkedIn Will Work to Your Advantage
You have to draw a line between your personal and professional posts in social media, such as LinkedIn. When creating an account, do not include information that is not related to your education, work experience, professional skills, etc. As the employer is looking for serious attitude and personal, unrelated information may create an impression of a person who prefers entertainment to work. It is not that difficult to keep all your personal stuff on Facebook and save LinkedIn for professional posts.
Polish other Profiles in Social Media
Now you might think that if your LinkedIn page is impeccable, it does not matter what information can be found on your profile pages in other networks. We often post different information on Facebook and Twitter hoping that only our friends will see that. In many cases, this is true. However, it might also happen that your employer wants to analyze your Facebook profile. So, before sending your CV to the dream company, also have a look at what they might find on your Facebook page. Should you find some old photos of you and your friend being obviously intoxicated or any other provocative posts, remove them.
As you can see, modern employers take into consideration not only your professional skills and experience but also your personal traits. Although you might mention some personal characteristics in your CV or cover letter, careful hiring managers will most probably analyze your social media profiles to see if what you say is true. The best way to avoid misunderstandings is to make sure that your Facebook and LinkedIn pages are always updated and have no provocative information.
