Employers of today aren’t satisfied with browsing the CVs and resume you sent them; now, they’re browsing your social media accounts! But before you panic and delete your profile, let me show you why your social media account may help you earn plus points to your employer.

Getting to Know You Better
Compared to CVs, social media is an open platform where you can get to know the person behind the account. This is because people are more open to express their feelings and thoughts on social media. If employers really want to make sure that they pick the best candidate, they look into the candidate’s social media accounts. Although employers often browse social media to look for dirt, they are also looking for reasons to hire the candidate.

 According to Jacquelyn Smith of Forbes, 34% employers who browse through their candidates’ social media profile often find content that made them hire the candidate. Employers often deny the candidate of the position when they found provocative photos, evidence of drinking and/or drug use, and inappropriate slurs in their accounts. So, if you don’t want to get flagged by your employer, make sure to delete or secure these things in your social media account!

Showing Off Your Skills 
Social media can do a great job of marketing yourself to your employers. While you may not realize it, your social media content is creating your own brand image. For example, having a proper profile picture and About Me portion may show professionalism and maturity. While having an inappropriate photo with a ‘Works At The Krusty Krab’ may not impress your employers. If you have the right content, then your social media profile will work for you!

Another thing that social media does a great job in is showcasing your skills. For creative hires, employers are always looking at the social media of their candidate to assess their skills for the position. For example, if the employer is looking for a graphic designer, he/she will look into the digital works that this candidate posted online. If these digital works are just what the employer needs, then that candidate is in for luck!

Being Active Is Key 
If you are just a lurker, meaning you have a social media profile but it is completely empty, then your employment prospects are a bit bad. Greg Simpson, a senior vice president at Lee Hecht Harrison, stresses the importance of being active in social media. He says:

“Job seekers who are silent or invisible online may be at a disadvantage. They need to engage on social networking sites to increase their visibility and searchability with prospective employers.”

Moreover, more employers are now utilizing social media to connect with their candidates. Companies looking for specific talents may look into an online community of these talents in social media. Instead of job boards and classified ads, employers often post job openings in online groups dedicated to job-seekers and employers.

Knowing all these things, are you still going to delete your profile?

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/04/16/how-social-media-can-help-or-hurt-your-job-search/#14e6a3727ae2
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sajjad-masud/social-media-hiring-practices_b_1958974.html

Contributed by:
Allison Julianne Macasaet, a freelance writer on the side, a student of international relations on the other. Interests include fantasy books, international relations, and lifestyle.