It’s Called ‘Social’ For A Reason…
Did you know that what job seekers post on their social networking profiles can be both a blessing and a curse for their chances of finding employment, according to a recent survey from CareerBuilder.co.uk?
Research conducted by CareerBuilder.co.uk of over 400 employers tells us that over 50% of employers have researched job candidates on social media, and a further 10% plan to start doing the same…
…And it’s not Linked In that employers are examining; over 60% check your Facebook profile and 45% look at a candidate’s Twitter feed.
Image sharing sites aren’t exempt from scrutiny either. Nearly 10% of employers refer to Instagram, and 8% to Pinterest. Employers are using search engines too: 50% of employers use search engines such as Google to research potential job candidates, and 11% plan to start.
The Right Image
Of those who have researched candidates on ‘social media’, over 40% have found content that caused them to NOT hire the candidate and 18% have found content that made them think twice about hiring the candidate!! That is astonishing!
When asked about the content that prompted them to eliminate candidates from consideration, the most common reasons employers gave included: images of drink & drug abuse, poor communication skills, provocative photographs and unprofessional ‘screen names’.
What Employers “Like”
On the other hand, 45% of employers who research candidates on social networking sites say they’ve found content that led them to HIRE a candidate.
Some of the most common reasons included: information to support their ‘ability’ to do the job, creativity, a professional image, well roundedness, a large number of followers/subscribers and compelling content.
“CVs only tell part of the story, so employers are increasingly relying on social media and Internet search engines to supplement their knowledge of a candidate,” said Scott Helmes, managing director of CareerBuilder UK. “For these reasons, job seekers need to be more aware than ever about what they say – and what’s being said about them – online.”
Jonothan Bosworth Recruitment Specialists help candidates make the right impression, and clients employ the right people, across the UK, Europe & Middle East in the following sectors: IT Cloud & Virtualisation, Water & Energy Services, Public Sector & HR.
If you are a client in search of a new recruitment partner, or a candidate looking for your next challenge, call us on +44 (0)845 299 6369 or email us ‘here’