What Recruiters May Be Learning About You Online

What Recruiters May Be Learning About You Online What Recruiters May Be Learning About You Online 2 In this era of Google, social media, and personal websites, your online persona is also bound to come under scrutiny. In fact, a Jobvite survey indicated that 92% of recruiters use social media to find candidates, and almost 70% of recruiters have rejected candidates based on their social networking profiles.  Therefore, you should take the time and make the effort to ensure your virtual image is what you want it to be. Heres what recruiters may be learning about you online, and what you can do to make sure youre sharing the right message: Evidence of Accomplishments and Expertise In your resume and cover letter, you tout your experience, knowledge, and proven ability to complete tasks. Recruiters are going to look online for more evidence to back up those claims. If you have a personal website that includes a portfolio or blog, you can provide that information in a way that is easy to find and understand. Background on Your Personality, Interests, and Hobbies Chances are good that recruiters will do a little low-key cyberstalking, checking out your profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other sites to see what kinds of things you post, what articles you like and share, and what causes or organizations you support. Its great to show your personality through social media sites, and you probably dont have anything to hide. After all, youre posting this information for all to see. But if recruiters find red flags (racist or sexist rants, mentions of illegal drug use, etc.), it could eliminate you from contention. For most reasonable people, that shouldnt be a problem, but its worth remembering nonetheless. How You Refer to Former Employers As noted in an article from Work It Daily, a hiring manager is likely to think twice if youre trashing a former employer, colleagues, or boss online. In fact, they’re thinking something like this, If we hire them and, for some reason, they don’t work out, what if they bash US all over the web? That’s not a good look for our brand. So, please don’t broadcast your woes all over the Internet, the article says. Along the same vein, if you have a Facebook post that reveals confidential information about your current or past employer, or if you use cyberspace to air your companys dirty laundry, a recruiter is likely to notice. It should be obvious, but if you receive information in confidence, keep it private. If your online actions show you are not trustworthy, it will definitely raise a red flag for potential employers. Discrepancies in Your Employment History If information you share online doesnt match what youve submitted in your resume, you could run into problems. This is especially relevant to your LinkedIn profile, according to a Fast Company article. So when your dates of employment, job titles, or other facts are different on your profile than they are on your resume, a recruiter might worry about how detail-oriented you are- or if there’s reason to believe that you’re not being truthful on one or the other, the article says. Make sure youre consistent and honest at all times. Indicators of Creativity and Problem-Solving Abilities This suggestion comes from a Workopolis article, which notes that the way you choose to use the latest networking tools and technologies can say a lot about how social, savvy, and skilled you are. Employers will be looking to see how innovative and original you are in what you do online. Signs Youll Be a Good Culture Fit Culture is more than just a corporate buzzword. Companies are investing thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in creating corporate cultures that are attractive to job candidates and appealing to clients or customers. What you share online will give recruiters clues regarding the kind of culture that will work well for you, so be sure your posts and website portray an image that is true to who you are. What Other People Say About You In addition to the language and information you share, hiring managers also may examine how friends, family members, colleagues, and acquaintances respond to your online presence. Do they respect you? Do they mention that youre a hard worker? You cant control what others say, but you should be aware that their responses may be viewed by someone who could have an impact on your future employment. Almost every job candidate is going to have some kind of online presence, and once something is on the Internet, people can find it. Even if youre not looking for work right now, keep that in mind as you decide what to post on your blog or on social media sites. If you are getting into the job market, take a few minutes to examine your cyber profile and tidy it up a bit. If you handle it correctly, your online persona could boost your chances of landing a job, instead of giving a fatal blow to your hiring prospects.