Recently a social media monitoring company called Reppler created an infographic on how hiring managers are screening their job applicants through social media. Thanks to social media, our lives are far more transparent than they have ever been before. If you are in the job market and have profiles on some of the top social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, read on. You may be surprised with some of the findings.
91% of recruiters have screened their employees through social media.
- 76% of hiring managers checked in on applicants on Facebook.
- 53% of hiring managers looked into applicants on Twitter.
- While LinkedIn is touted as the professional social media site to use in the job search, only 46% of hiring managers screened their applicants through it.
69% of recruiters reported that they rejected a job candidate based on something they saw on the applicant’s social media profiles. Reasons applicants were rejected include:
- Lying about their qualifications
- Posting inappropriate photos or content
- Demonstrating poor communication skills
- Divulging confidential information from a former employer
Not everything in the infographic was discouraging however. 68% of hiring managers reported hiring employees based off of positive things they saw demonstrated on an applicant’s social media profile. Some of these things include:
- Positive first impression about their personality
- Social media profile confirmed their professional qualifications
- Profile indicated the applicant was creative
- Demonstrated excellent communication skills
Have you checked your social media profiles for appropriateness recently? For related reading, check out:
- Using Social Media in Job Search — LinkedIn
- Could Facebook Prevent You From Getting Your Dream Job
- Your Personal Marketing Social Media Strategy
- What Students Can Learn From the Weinergate Scandal
- 7 Social Media Sites to Help With Visibility In Your Job Search
Here is the complete infographic from Reppler.
Thanks for using my Facebook timeline mugshot Sarah. Great post with valuable tips for job seekers. Cheers.
Sure thing, Dave! It was definitely the most memorable Facebook timeline shot I could find
Sarah Ward, thank you for such a power packed post. We are always encouraging our students, schools and groups we teach to put their best face forward…the whole world is watching! Thank you and we will share your article via social media!