These days, more and more companies are going through online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram to filter for future employees.
Based on a survey by Jobvite (an online recruiting software company based in the United States), 93 per cent of hiring managers will review a candidate’s social profile before making a recruiting decision.
This trend is not only prevalent in America but in other countries as well.
Malaysia — with close to 19 million users online, as of August 2015 — has one of the highest numbers of Internet users in this region, behind Singapore.
It will come as no surprise then if CEOs or HR managers here are also using online social networks to filter for their next recruit.
Last October, we touched on taking advantage of LinkedIn — a business-oriented social networking service, which is mainly used for professional networking — to advance your career.
This week, we’d like to share some ideas on how you can make use of your online social networks to shine in the eyes of your potential employers, with the knowledge that they’re probably going through your postings and tweets to find out if you’re the right person for the job.
Project a positive and professional image
You might want to do some ‘digital cleaning’ of your online social media accounts, as most of your potential employers, especially the larger companies, actively use social media as one of their communication tools.
Digital cleaning means updating your profile and cover pictures with appropriate photos, deleting inappropriate postings, or even revising your personal information.
While you’re at it, you should also do a quick search of your name on Google to see what comes up. Although you may not be able to change the results of the search, at least you are aware of what information is out there about you.
Use different platforms to showcase work
If you’re an artist, who is keen to start a career as a lecturer in a college or university, Instagram might be a good platform to showcase your artwork.
If you’re looking for a career as a journalist, start sharing your past articles or blog postings on your social media networks.
These platforms can serve as your virtual gallery, not only for your friends and followers but also for your future employers.
So, start sharing your creativity and your skills and don’t be surprised to find out that your future employers are the next ones to ‘like’ or even follow your account.
Showcase variety of activities
In interviews, we are often asked about our hobbies or extracurricular activities.
If you are active in outdoor activities or volunteer work, you should also maximise your activities on social media networks to showcase your interests and talents.
Through your online postings, your future employers will get the opportunity to discover your passion for an active lifestyle and your commitment to the community.
Always remember that although your social media accounts are for personal use, potential employers will also be able to refer to them as their scouting and filtering tool.
So if you intend to get that desired job, it won’t hurt to keep your accounts looking professional and clean.
Most importantly, put yourself in the shoes of your potential employers and see if your online persona is really one that would fit into the organisation that you wish to join.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! — an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak — to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
(This article first appeared on Borneo Post on this link: http://bit.ly/1PAtCdB)
