6 Tips for Job Seekers to Avoid Tricky Social Media Situations

6 Tips for Job Seekers to Avoid Tricky Social Media Situations 6 Tips for Job Seekers to Avoid Tricky Social Media Situations For better or worse, many employers are searching for candidates online before they ever call them for an interview. And we want to help job seekers avoid tricky social media situations that could hurt their chances of being hired. Employers screen candidates on social media for a number of reasons: Some employers find it more appealing or easier to learn about a candidate through their online profiles rather than just their resume and cover letter. Some are looking to confirm the data youve given them in your application materials. Some are looking to see if you would be a good representative of their company, especially if the role is a client- or public-focused position. In researching candidates on social media, many recruiters  mainly look to see how job seekers portray themselves online professionally and to see if they  can learn any more details about their professional history. Many  prefer using LinkedIn for this, and some do  general Google searches to see if anything else pops up. Six  Ways to Avoid Tricky Social Media Situations 1. Avoid  these social media red flags. Two big red flags employers are looking for: either no online presence at all (even a basic LinkedIn profile) or inconsistent online profiles that either dont back up the information on a resume, or profiles that actually contradict resume information. If youre actively submitting applications, make sure your online presence (including social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) is consistent with you as a professional. No social media presence at all can be a red flag for employers because so many of todays jobs are based in the knowledge economy, which requires a good amount of activity online. If an employer thinks you arent very active online, they may (rightly or wrongly) think you arent up to date when it comes to skills and knowledge. 2. Use  social media to your advantage. The good news is that this is actually an opportunity for you to stand out! On a resume, you are limited as to what you show employers. But online, you can create a very detailed portrait of yourself as a professional. The next few points offer  some ideas to use social media to your advantage as a professional. 3. Your LinkedIn profile should go beyond descriptions of your jobs. The Summary section is a fantastic place to stand out and show the value you bring to any organization. Wondering what to fill that blank space with? How about answers to these questions: What are your expertise areas? Your best skills? Your most valuable assets? Why are you passionate about this industry or career field? Also, include links to projects youve worked on and take advantage of LinkedIns publishing platform to write knowledgeable articles about the industry you work in, trends in the field, and anything else that can show you know your stuff. 4. On sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, consider showcasing your professional side more prominently. Twitter, in particular, is a great place to interact with other professionals in your field in casual but memorable ways. And that includes recruiters and hiring managers! But if you want to keep them strictly social, make sure your privacy settings are turned up to the highest level possible! 5. Don’t go crazy on social media after you’ve landed a job. Again, for better or for worse, we live in an era where everything is connected. Many teams operate in a way where coworkers, and even managers and workers, are connecting on social media. If you decide to become friends with your boss on Facebook, you have to assume that they will see everything you post. And even if its unfair, they may associate your posts as a reflection of you as a professional. Weve seen lots of examples of people being fired because of the things they post online- offensive comments, inappropriate pictures, risky social media handles, you name it. 6.  Come up with a plan for connecting with coworkers and managers on social media (or not).   This completely depends on what you post on each social media channel. Think long and hard about how you use a channel like Facebook or Instagram before accepting a friend request from a coworker or boss. If theres even a slight chance they will see something offensive, inappropriate, or questionable from you, dont accept the request. You might also consider using one social media channel for professional connections and others for casual or friendly connections. For example, I use Twitter and LinkedIn almost exclusively for professional connections, but Facebook mainly for friends and family. If you decide not to connect with work folks on social media, explain to your boss or coworker why you didnt accept their request- that you only use that channel to connect with close friends or relatives- so they know you arent blowing them off or being rude.