Social Media and Your Next Job

By: Bhavik Vyas!

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When people tweet, upload pictures, or post status updates, they are not likely thinking

about the long-term effects of those actions.(1)

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However, in today’s digitally connected world, social media is a key player

in the job search process.(2)

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Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ allow employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside the confines of a résumé, cover letter, or interview.(2)

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No longer is a traditional résumé, cover letter, and interview enough.

Applicants must ensure that their online identities reflect a good employee.

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Job seekers get the opportunity to:

Learn about companies they’re interested in;

Connect with current and former employees;

And hear about job openings instantaneously.(2)

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Helene Cavalli, vice president of marketing at Lee Hecht Harrison says, “while [social media] isn’t the only strategy for finding a job, it’s becoming increasingly important.”(2)

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37% of employers use social networks to

screen potential job candidates.

-careerbuilder.com survey(3)

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of employers said they do it to see if the job seeker presents himself or herself professionally.

-careerbuilder.com survey(3)

65%

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of employers want to know if the candidate is a good fit for the

company culture. -careerbuilder.com survey(3)

51%

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34% of employers have found content that has caused them not to hire the candidate.

-careerbuilder.com survey(3)

said they chose not to hire someone because of evidence of drinking and/or drug use on his or her social profiles.

-careerbuilder.com survey(3)

45%

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There are plenty of ways to protect your online image; you just have to take the time to do them.(4)

Privacy settings are always available.

Filter what people post about you, always check out tagged photos and be mindful of

what you let stand. (4)

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If used correctly, social media can also allow you to excel and be recruited ahead of others for prestigious jobs.(5)

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Always remember: the content you put

out on social media is permanent.(6)

Privacy is very hard to attain on the internet.(6)

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So what can you do to take advantage of

social media and take your career

to the next level?

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Use LinkedIn to create a professional profile that can showcase your best skills and experiences and

help you land a dream job.(7)

Much of what is showcased on LinkedIn cannot be done via traditional résumé, cover letter, or even an

interview.(8)

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You only want to display content that showcases you as an ideal candidate

for a job.

Ensure that you clean up all of your social

media profiles.  

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Furthermore, to land your dream job, ensure

that you:

•  Use social media to learn about hiring managers(7)

•  Let people know that you are looking for a job (status

update, tweet, etc.)(7)

•  Don’t be afraid to network via Facebook, Twitter, or

LinkedIn(7)

In text references: (1)  Baumhart, P. (2015). Social Media and the Job Market: How to Reconcile Applicant Privacy with Employer Needs. University

of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, 48(2), 503-533. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=20f7c692-75a1-436c-a72f-3d6902944e1b@sessionmgr4002&vid=1&hid=4106

(2)  Smith, J. (2013, April 16). How Social Media Can Help (Or Hurt) You In Your Job Search. Retrieved June 8, 2015. (3)  Grasz, J. (2014, June 26). Number of Employers Passing on Applicants Due to Social Media Posts Continues to Rise,

According to New CareerBuilder Survey. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=6/26/2014&id=pr829&ed=12/31/2014

(4)  Social media sabotaging job opportunities. (2013). UWIRE. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Article&prodId=AONE&tabID=T004&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&contentSegment=&currentPosition=1&searchResultsType=Sing

(5)  Mangold, W., & Faulds, D. (2009). Social media: The new hybrid element of the promotion mix. Business Horizons, 52, 357-365. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_Faulds/publication/222415599_Social_media_The_new_hybrid_element_of_the_promotion_mix/links/00463532845a0100af000000.pdf

(6)  Rosen, J. (2010, July 21). The Web Means the End of Forgetting - NYTimes.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/magazine/25privacy-t2.html?pagewanted=all

(7)  Grant, A. (2010, December 3). 10 Smart Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search - US News. Retrieved June 9, 2015, from http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-smart-ways-to-use-social-media-in-your-job-search/1

(8)  A pixelated portrait of labour; social media and job titles.(What LinkedIn tells us about job trends). (2012, March 10). The Economist.

References: (1)  Bowness, S. (2013, January 11). Five ways to be a smart social media user in your job hunt. Retrieved June 9, 2015.  (2)  Clark, D. (2012, March 28). It's Not a Job Search, It's a Permanent Campaign. Retrieved June 9, 2015.  (3)  Silverman, R. E., & Weber, L. (2013, Apr 09). The new résumé: It's 140 characters; some recruiters, job seekers turn to twitter,

but format is a challenge; six-second video goes viral. Wall Street Journal (Online) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1324718460?accountid=6180

(4)  Singer, N. (2013, November 11). In College Admissions, Social Media Can Be a Double-Edged Sword. Retrieved June 12, 2015.