Why Your Social Media May Be Ruining Your Chances of Being Hired

Do your job applications keep getting rejected or ignored? You checked your resumé, your portfolio, and even your references. You can't find anything blatantly wrong. So, why aren't the hirers calling? 

Have you screened your social media yet? It might be the reason you're not getting a callback. Perusing a jobseeker's social networking sites has been a norm for HR. Find out what this practice of social media screening is all about and how you can start cleaning up your cyber-presence today by reading below.

A Digital Screening Process

Are your accounts set to private? According to Human Resources Director, seven of 10 employers say they use social media to research job applicants. Hirers believe that checking social media is a measure of someone's character and 55% confessed they rejected a candidate based on their findings online. 

So, if you think you've played your cards right in your application, check if your social media pages are failing you.

Why Do Potential Employers Look You Up Online?

Seventy per cent of Singaporeans use social media, so it makes sense for potential employers to go online to find out more about job applicants. It's called social media screening or “social sleuthing.” It is a fast and cost-effective way for recruiters to determine if you are suitable for the position for which you are applying.

What Are Potential Employers Looking For?

Believe it or not, employers are looking for reasons to hire you. Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, told USA Today that when employers look you up online, they want to know more about you. They want to see if you are a good fit for achieving the company goals, what you are passionate about, whom you admire, and the trends you follow. Employers look for your affiliations, the work you've accomplished, and what stories come up when they search your name.

In short, employers go online to validate your qualifications and gain insight into what you can contribute to the organisation. They also check to see if your personality and values fit the corporate culture. 

What Potential Hirers Don’t Want to See

Employers are happy to find positive feedback about applicants because it brings them closer to completing the hiring process. However, not all information found online is always favourable, which, as mentioned earlier, could prevent you from getting the job. 

Red flags for employers include profanity, inappropriate photos and videos, and personal attacks. A September 2021 article in Harvard Business Review shares that recruiters also give low marks to candidates for signs of alcohol and drug use, violence, and sexual behaviour. 

Where Employers Look You Up

Just where do employers find their information? Search engines are the first place they check because they want to see your work and what other people post and say about you.

A survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that employers also frequently check social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. They also look to professional and association sites to see your credentials and stature in the industry. 

Are you worried that your social media pages will cast you in a negative rather than positive light? Deleting your social media is not an option. Another study in SHRM says that 35% of hirers do not consider a candidate who doesn’t have an online presence. 

According to Simon Quance, Creative Director of Digital Visitor, a social media and digital marketing agency, in a 2017 interview in Travel Trade Gazette, you can clean up or “scrub” your social media presence to improve your job prospects. A better online presence not only improves your chances of employment but also enhances your personal brand.

Building a Positive Online Presence

Now that you know employers will look you up on social media and that what they find online has the potential to help or harm you, use the digital platform to your advantage. Make your social pages amplify your positive characteristics and give employers all the reasons to hire you with these tips:

Post a strong portfolio.

Remember that employers check to see if the information you listed in your resume about your education, experience and previous jobs matches what they find online. Make it easy for employers to discover these details by posting a portfolio exhibiting your accomplishments and qualifications.

You can even make it multimedia and interactive! A digital platform does not limit you the way a document does. Show your creativity and talents. Not only can you control how your work and credentials are displayed, but you will also be able to ensure that you are presenting yourself in the best light. 

Build your web page or use an excellent portfolio template. Ensure there are no grammatical or typographical errors. They come off as unprofessional, creating a detrimental effect on how employers view your work.

Project a professional profile on your social pages.

You can still be a fun, cool person and an expert in your field. The key is to remember that you are a respected and respectable professional even as you engage in social media. Your posts, likes, shares, and language should build an image of you that is advantageous rather than damaging to your career.   

Also, make sure that your profile is up to date. It shows that you are organised and diligent. 

Network mindfully.

Who is in your social circle? Having connections with people whom the employer knows and trusts establishes your credibility as a professional. Forge a strong network so employers would be pleased to have you on their team. 

Do an online search.

Have you tried searching your name on search engines? It is probably the first step employers take when they want to look you up. See what happens when you type your name to see what employers will find when they do the same. A quick search will let you know what impression you make online. It’s an image of you that not just potential employers will be able to view but also future clients.

To monitor your online mentions (instances when other people post your name), set Google Alerts. Google Alerts will notify you when new results come up regarding your name.

Check your posts.

Take an objective look at the kind of posts you have made. Is there anything controversial, offensive, or contentious? Each post, like, comment, and share makes up your digital footprint. Much like a fingerprint, digital footprints are unique to you and give viewers a picture of who you are. 

Although it is unreasonable to expect that you won’t share opinions online, employers check if you post with responsibility and self-awareness. Do you have good reasons for posting what you post? Be purposeful. Some HR professionals say that your posts reveal your IQ or intelligence quotient. Post with intent!

Check who can see your posts.

Perhaps this is more of a wake-up call than a way to dodge background checks by potential employers. Have you been addressing the public in general rather than “friends only”? 

If your posts are visible to everyone, consider why the public has to read them and if they contribute to society. Do your posts express your professional expertise? If not, why not? By presenting your professional side along with your fun-loving side, you will be presenting a whole version of yourself and your marketing brand You.      

Although it might seem that you need to worry about employers checking your social media pages and digital footprint when you apply for a job, remember that by taking control of what you post, you can make social media your best cheerleader. Follow the tips and steps above to get a head start in building an online presence that shows your professional capacities and talents. 

Find more job-hunting tips on our Career Resources page. For career leads, download JobStreet’s app available on the App Store and Google Play. Get hired faster by updating your JobStreet profile #LetsGetToWork.