Recruiters Are Looking at Your Social Media Footprint

Recruiters are lurking in the depths of your social media profiles. Are they seeing what you want them to see?

It’s no secret that recruiters are looking up candidates online before they move them forward in the hiring process.

According to a recent study (https://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/survey-96-of-recruiters-use-social-media-to-find-high-quality-candidates/627040) 92% of recruiters use social media to find high-quality candidates. And if that doesn’t get you hyper-aware of what’s out there about you online, this will…almost 70% of recruiters have rejected candidates based on the content found on their social networking profiles.

There are certain things recruiters are looking for when they search you online. And, if you want to make a great first impression on these recruiters, you need to do some recon work. Is there anything out there you DON’T want them to see? If so, take it down.

While you’re cleaning things up, you should take some time to give them what they want, too. During these online searches, recruiters are eager to learn certain things about you. There are some things recruiters are looking for when they’re checking out your online presence. So, it’s important for you to make sure that those things will be easy for them to find. They want to know that:

1. You know your stuff.

If you’ve been bragging that you’re an expert in whatever it is that you do, you better back it up. What proof do you have that what you’re claiming is true? You know recruiters, employers, and clients are going to be looking for you online, so have something to show them. Brand yourself as an expert in your field by starting a blog or creating an online portfolio of your work. Simply sharing links of up to date information about your industry, or providing a topic of discussion about new technologies in your profession shows that you have an enthusiastic perspective about your career field and your future.

2. You’re not bad-mouthing your former employer.

If you’re trashing your old boss, colleagues, or company all over the Internet, you need to sit down because (surprise) recruiters are not impressed. In fact, they’re thinking something like this, “If we hire them and, for some reason, they do not work out, what if they bash us all over the Web? That’s not a good look for our brand.” So do not broadcast your woes all over the Internet. Not everyone has had the perfect job from day one and we can all share a funny or sad story about our company, or day to day tasks as a way of venting, but it shows your potential employer that: you are not happy with your current job (and possibly career choice) and you do not value the integrity of your workplace.

3. You have a personality.

Now more than ever, companies are hiring people based on their “fit” instead of just their work experience. Employers are realizing that hiring the wrong person can completely throw off a team dynamic, and cause workplace issues that can affect the business. So, finding people who share the same values, passions, and goals is becoming more and more important.

4. You’re not posting about inappropriate stuff.

This is a huge red flag for employers and recruiters. Although studies have found that alcohol consumption is not a deciding factor for most recruiters, be careful about how much of your profile is dedicated to drinking games and group selfies at the local bar hoisting shots and pints for chasers. They do not care so much about your beer pong photos anymore as long as drinking isn’t the only thing you post about. You also need to be careful of what you "like" on social media. Employers are looking at that too. Just like Facebook uses algorithmic search engine optimization, employers are honing their searching skills and may not consider an employee who continually gives a heart or a thumbs up to activities that are counterproductive to their mission. Liking a bigoted or inflammatory comment or posts about illegal drugs indicates they are part of your interests.

Limit how active you are on social media during the day. If you are posting and liking content all day during business hours, employers will assume you aren't devoting enough time and attention to your job.

Don't speak ill of a former employer. Keep gripes with an old boss or co-worker private. Airing your dirty laundry indicates a lack of good judgment and an inability to keep company matters confidential. For healthcare workers this is does not fall under the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) but there are more and more corporate structured hospital organizations that have stricter social media policies than you may be aware of and the language that you signed off on (in an employee handbook, on page 96, printed in a size 6 font after an 8 hour orientation) is buried deep in your file and can resurface should your employer get wind of your grievances and grumbles.

5. Hype the volunteering and community involvement. Employers are always looking for new teammates that will help build an inclusive and community-minded work environment. Sharing the charity race you are running in or the animal shelter you volunteer at will gain you points.

In summary, technology is being used to assess you as a potential employee. Think about what you post and like online. It still could make or break you getting that job. These are just a few things recruiters are looking for when they search you online. Of course, each recruiter, company, and industry has different things they want in a job candidate, so make sure you do your homework. That way, you can prove that you’re a great candidate to bring in for a job interview.