A recent survey from CareerBuilder.com reports that employers are 35% less likely to interview candidates they can’t find online. If you don’t have a professional, and that does mean professional not personal, presence online now is the time to get one. If you’re already online, now is the time to clean up your profiles and check your social site settings so they are employer-friendly.
CareerBuilder’s social media recruitment survey for 2015 reports that:
- The majority of employers now use social networks to screen candidates
- 35% of employers who screen via social networks have sent friend requests or followed candidates that have private accounts
Who is Using Social Media for Recruiting
Here’s a list of industries where employers use social media the most:
- Information Technology: 76%
- Financial Services: 64%
- Sales: 61%
- Professional & Business Services: 54%
- Manufacturing: 49%
- Health Care: 49%
- Retail: 46%
Top Sites Employers Use
Jobvite’s 2014 Social Recruiting Survey reports that the sites employer use the most are:
- LinkedIn: 94%
- Facebook: 66%
- Twitter: 52%
- Google+: 21%
At the least, you should have an updated LinkedIn profile which includes all the information on your resume. You should also make sure your public Facebook posts are appropriate for anyone to read. I usually go by the “grandma” rule – if your grandmother can read it without you getting upset, it’s fine.
Employers Are Checking You Out
The chances are that you’re going to get your social accounts checked out by prospective employers. 52% of employers are using social networking sites to research job candidates, up from 43% in 2014 and 39% in 2013.
Besides looking for you on LinkedIn and social sites, 51% of hiring managers use search engines to check out applicants. Be sure to Google yourself, so you know what a prospective employer is going to find out about you.
Employers Want to Be Your Friend
Yes, you read that right. At least some employers want to be your Facebook friend or a connection on another site. 35% of surveyed employers who screen via social networks have requested to “be a friend” or follow candidates that have a private account. 80% of them have been given permission.
Be Careful What You Post
As always, it’s important to be careful what you post. If you’re job hunting or contemplating a job search, double check your social site settings so you know who can see what. Err on the site of limiting views of what you post, so an employer doesn’t inadvertently see something that was for your friend’s eyes only.
You Can Do it Too
I was surprised to read that only 15% of workers check out hiring managers on social media. With 38% trying to directly interact with the individual. You don’t have to connect with them, but you can learn a lot about the hiring manager and the company spending some time checking them out. LinkedIn is an especially good tool for learning as much as possible about the people you could be working with if you get the job.
More Information: CareerBuilder Social Media Recruiting Survey
Read More: Tips for Keeping Pinterest Professional | 9 Simple Steps to Make a Better LinkedIn Profile
