Melissa Carter wrote a great blog titled "Social Media and your Future" which gave insight into how employers are using social media platforms to search out employees to ensure successful hiring practices.“Social media is a primary vehicle of communication today, and because much of that communication is public, it’s no surprise some recruiters and hiring managers are tuning in" (Smith, 2013).
It is estimated that "93% of hiring managers will review a candidate's social profile before making a hiring decision" (Davidson, 2014). However, Jacquelyn Smith points out, "The good news is that hiring managers aren’t just screening your social media profiles to dig up dirt; they’re also looking for information that could possibly give you an advantage (2013). The Wall Street Journal found that only "19% [of employers] said they found information that sold them on a candidate, such as communication skills or a professional image" (Flynn, 2014). There has been a long standing debate around the ethics of this. Some people say that looking at a prospective hire's social media accounts can lead to discrimination and it may screen out otherwise strong candidates who have done some things the company doesn't like but aren't related to work (Flynn, 2014). However, Nancy Flynn, thinks that, "Keeping an eye on employees helps companies protect themselves (2014).
As a job applicant, it is recommended to have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ to allow employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside the confines of a résumé, cover letter, or interview (Smith, 2013). The best part about your social media platforms is that all these pages describe you in your own words - because you wrote them!! "As you consider a strategy to get yourself out there and onto a social networking site... just remember that authenticity and transparency are critical" (Scott, 2015 p.270). If you are applying for a position in communications, it is imperative to show that you understand how the digital world works. If a company views your social media accounts and does not like how you present yourself, it can be assumed that they will not trust you with their social media presence.
A good rule of thumb for when it comes to privacy settings on your profiles is: "If you choose to share content publicly on social media, make sure it’s working to your advantage... Take down or secure anything that could potentially be viewed by an employer as unprofessional and share content that highlights your accomplishments and qualifications in a positive way” (Smith, 2013).
Most of our digital foot-prints are massive, so you may not be able to remove all of the reputation damaging material you find about yourself online. However, there are ways to make things better. Minda Zetlin suggests, "By raising your online profile in a positive way so that anything bad is pushed further and further down in search results" (2015). She also recommends to "Contribute content to industry publications or websites, or local publications. Post regularly to social media in a way that reflects well on you, such as to note your own accomplishments, congratulate your friends and colleagues on their successes, or share valuable content" (Zetlin, 2015).
Sources:
Davidson, J. 2014. The 7 Social Media Mistakes Most Likely to Cost You a Job. Time. Retrieved from http://time.com/money/3510967/jobvite-social-media-profiles-job-applicants/
Flynn, N. 2014. Should Companies Monitor Their Employees' Social Media? Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/should-companies-monitor-their-employees-social-media-1399648685
Scott, D. M. (2015). The New Rules of Marketing and PR (5th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Smith, J. 2013. How Social Media Can Help (Or Hurt) You In Your Job Search. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/04/16/how-social-media-can-help-or-hurt-your-job-search/#18c515717ae2
Zetlin, M. 2015. Why You Should Google Yourself Regularly (and What to Do About What You Find). Inc.com. http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/why-you-should-google-yourself-regularly-and-what-to-do-about-what-you-find-inf.html
