The power of social media

Social media is more important than ever. It has inspired political revolution, reconnected school friends and has established itself as the platform for the world to talk to each other.

Think of social media as the new first impression. It plays a big role in the job market and can be used to your advantage when thinking about a career change, looking for a job or even presenting yourself online in a more professional manner. Your presence online can also be the difference between getting hired or not. If you’re active on Facebook or Instagram, it’s likely that the person hiring you is too.

We’re not just talking about Facebook. There’s Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest… the list goes on. While statistics show that LinkedIn is still number one when it comes to jobs, 66% of companies use Facebook and 54% of companies use Twitter in their hiring process. With numbers like these, is it worth not having a spring clean of your social media?

An overwhelming 73% of people were successfully hired using social media. The landscape of social media is changing but so is the way in which recruiters hire talent. The growing trend of moving away from traditional recruitment shows just how important social media is.

This means that hiring managers are checking up on candidates. Since 3 out of 4 hiring managers check the social media profiles of candidates, it’s difficult to ignore the power that social media has when it comes to recruitment.

14.4 million people use social media to look for jobs!

Who is looking at my profile?

It is a recruiter’s job to understand a candidate as best as possible. Often this is achieved via phone interviews or an interview in person. But recruiters can also get an idea of who you are by looking at your social media. It may seem like they’re judging a book by its cover but these are the times we’re living in.

Using social media can help prevent recruiters hiring the wrong candidate. But it can also encourage a recruiter to understand what a person is like out of work. This is useful in establishing whether you’re a good fit for a company. For example, a prestigious law firm may decide not to interview you if your Twitter has mentions of any inappropriate activity and conversely they may want to see you in person if your Twitter reflects their own company identity.

If you don’t want anything to be seen by the public, simply do not post it or make sure it is private. This can also work in your favour as recruiters may see this as a smart move, knowing that you understand the importance of online security.

Do recruiters look at social media?

The answer is simple: Yes. Why? They want to know the real you. Recruiters want to see beyond the CV. With websites like Facebook and Twitter, a recruiter is able to see your personality, what activities you take part in, who you follow, who follows you, use of language and even your opinions on current affairs. This is so that they can gauge if your personal brand aligns with the company and its values.

This is the perfect opportunity to give it a cleanup. A recruiter is less likely to hire someone if their Twitter displays information about illegal drugs or tweets of an inappropriate nature so it’s worth going through your social media to ensure that what‘s on there is work suitable.

73% of companies have hired successfully through social media.

How important is social media?

With more than 14.4 million people looking for jobs on social media platforms, this figure shows the growing prevalence and importance of social media. This means your online presence could be crucial in helping you find a job.

However, if you’re looking for a job or you’re in employment, having yourself spread across social media can be valuable. You can establish yourself as a voice within your industry. By sharing articles, information and having discussions with influencers, you will start to earn yourself a reputation as someone worth listening to.

Posting on forums, discussion boards or even leaving reviews on relevant business books on Amazon can place you in good stead with recruiters, too. Next time you buy a book that you’ve enjoyed (or not enjoyed), write a review on Amazon. All of this contributes to growing and improving your online presence and can the right people notice you.

By following CEOs, executives and other established business leaders you will be able to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest trends in your field.

The more you use social media, the more you will benefit from it.

58% follow a company’s social media because they want to work there.

66% of millennials are concerned that information online may negatively affect their reputation.