Employee Hiring Tips: The Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media

  

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By: Stephanie Parra 

There is no doubt that in the past five years, the world of business has been changed and impacted by social media. As social media continues to expand - increasing number of sites and members - companies are starting to embrace the power of these outlets when hiring employees. As more information is accessible over the Internet, some employers are adding social media searches to the usual background checks when considering candidates for employment. According to Joe Bontke, outreach manager for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s office in Houston, “75 percent of recruiters are required by their companies to do online research of candidates. And 70 percent of recruiters in the United States report that they have rejected candidates because of information online.” Infusive Solutions has worked with companies who have rejected candidates based on what they found about clients through their social media pages. In a world where employees and their actions reflect the company they work for, human resource management and recruiter personnel are taking social media background checks seriously.

You may be thinking that a search like this will take too long for busy recruiters, however software has been created to allow companies to easily run background searches on potential candidates. Social Intelligence is one example of a start up company that is geared toward finding out information about potential employees for companies. Social Intelligence searches the Internet for everything prospective employees may have said or done online in the past seven years. This could really hurt someone that is job hunting or going through the hiring process. While the Internet provides many benefits to the large number of users, it is important to be aware of what your Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook pages could portray to a future employer.

The Don’ts of Social Media

• Don't include a link on your resume to any site which includes inappropriate content

• Don’t post pictures or make a status that you don’t want a future employer to see. They do not want to see what you did during college or over the weekend 

• Don’t forget to up-date information on resumes and social media sites. Make sure the information is accurate and consistent!

• Don’t assume future employers can’t find you online because they can.

The Do’s of Social Media

• Check your privacy setting on your social media pages to only allow friends to see your information. This will help block future employers from being able to search through your page 

• Go through your social media sites and delete inappropriate content (postings, pictures, links etc.)

• Consider making a personal professional website or blog to highlight accomplishments. This can help you positively manage your online reputation

• Build a strong network on all your sites to promote yourself. Connect with employers via Linkedin (if you have completed your profile and use it for professional purposes only!) Employees at Infusive Solutions are constantly browsing Linkedin and connecting with potential candidates and clients on Linkedin

Social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with employers and creating a positive image for you. But remember what happens in Vegas, stays on Google!
For more information on using Linkedin professionally, look at the blog posting “8 Ways Linkedin Can Help Your Job Interview Techniques” written by Murshed Chowdhury.