Friday, July 27, 2018

What your digital presence says to an employer...



You have been searching for the right position, and you have done everything you should do-updated your resume/CV and LinkedIn profile - so why aren't you getting interviews?
It could be your social media presence. Today's savvy employers want to know who they are asking in for an interview or hiring.  With social media at an all-time high in usage, it isn't very hard for you to get known pretty quickly through your online presence.

Today, Facebook and other sites are an employers' window to who you are.  Even if you have set your privacy settings on high, a lot of personal information can still be garnered by a potential employer - including who you are connected to, your interests and passions, your affiliations and political ideals, your religious beliefs and other information can be pretty easy to get to. 

Here are a few things a potential employer might look at:

Multiple profiles.  Do you have multiple profiles on various media sites?  Perhaps creating multiple profiles has a meaning to you but, to an employer, the first thing brought to mind might be "why?".

Your pictures. Is your profile picture seductive, silly or a graphic?  Yes, your personal life is your business, but these are immediate turnoffs to a recruiter or potential employer. Images posted by your "friends" or connections or your Likes or emoji may also affect the way your persona is viewed. 

Your grammar and spelling.  What do your posts reveal about you?  Many employers probably would be hesitant to hire someone as an Administrative/Executive Assistant who posted "Cease the day" rather than "Seize the day" to represent their company.

Your statements.  Do you make political statements (or statements of any kind), post lewd or weird pictures and nonsense (the list is pretty long, but the point is to be very selective)?  During your career hunt, this information should probably be put in "hold" status.

Many other factors that may sway an employer from calling you in for an interview or hiring you. However, making a few changes to how and what you put in your online information just might improve your chances. Good luck!

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