It’s no secret these days that many, if not most, employers take to social media to check out potential job candidates. In some cases, employers may just be looking for red flags or something egregious that stands out that may eliminate the candidate from consideration for an interview. In other cases, though, employers may use Facebook and other social media sites as something of a pre-interview in attempt to discern something about the individual before actually deciding to bring them in for a face-to-face interview.
With this in mind, it is important for job seekers to treat their Facebook profile as an extension of themselves. They should take a close look at their profiles and ask what it says about them, and how an outsider would view it. Employers won’t be able to distinguish between an online persona and the real person. Instead, they will make conclusions about the person based on what they say. This can make the difference between getting the job or not, or even getting asked to an interview or completely passed over.
Here are a few tips on how to approach your Facebook profile with an eye toward the job search process.
Look out for red flags.
The most obvious place to start is to look for glaring postings that will stand out and send a negative impression to potential employers. Examples could be pictures of drug use or other illegal behavior, comments badmouthing former employers, or lying about qualifications. These are sure to squander your chances of landing a job and should be eliminated.
Ask what your profile says about you.
Employers can learn a lot about you based on your profile, or at least they think they can. If your profile contains a lot of overly emotional or inflammatory postings, employers may conclude that you are not emotionally stable, and may look more negatively at you as a candidate. On the other hand, an individual who regularly posts interesting photos and comments, and interacts with a large network of people may come across to employers as someone who is outgoing, experienced, and become a more attractive job candidate.
Consider adjusting privacy settings.
Another approach to dealing with your Facebook profile when looking for a job is to control who can see what on your profile. Employers may expect that you will have some sort of online presence, so completely hiding your profile may backfire, but if you are concerned that certain things on your profile could send the wrong message, limiting access may be a smart course of action.
For more tips on how to succeed in finding your next job, turn to Job Store Staffing®. At Job Store Staffing®, we have the experience and expertise to assist you with all of your job search needs in the Denver area. If you’re looking for a job in Denver, contact us today to see how our staffing services can help.