Social Media Fix
THE JANUARY JUMP: TASK 8
What does your social media say about you?
Today you are going to do a quick social media audit to make sure you’re happy with what your social media is showing current and future employers and recruiters.
*Haven’t joined yet? Sign up now to receive the January Jump emails in your inbox*
Today’s Task
Social Media Fix
It is probably no surprise to many of us that recruiters and employers look at the social media profiles of candidates and employees. But how often do we actively check our profiles to make sure we are happy with what they are telling the world about us?
A UK survey published in Adweek in 2015 indicated that 92% of all recruiters were using social media platforms (namely LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) as recruitment tools. Various studies over the past couple of years indicate that about 70% of employers and recruiters routinely investigate their candidates and employees on social media.
A recent survey by CareerBuilder showed that more than half of employers (54%) found content on social media that caused them not to hire a candidate.
It said that these were some of the key reasons that employers were put off by a candidate’s online profile:
Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos or information: 39%
Candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs: 38%
Candidate had discriminatory comments related to race, gender or religion: 32%
Candidate made derogatory comments about their previous company or fellow employee: 30%
Candidate had poor communication skills: 27%
Candidate shared confidential information from previous employers: 23%
Candidate’s screen name was unprofessional: 22%
Candidate posted too frequently: 17%
Social Media Audit and Fix
Today’s exercise is designed to help you check what the world is seeing about you online.
I recommend that you begin by checking any social media platforms for which you have created a profile. These might include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp, but be sure to check any other accounts you may have. WhatsApp is particularly worth mentioning because people often set this photo without much thought but it can be seen by anyone with your mobile number. That quick snap of you at the bar on holiday, looking slightly worse for wear, might not impress.
As a second step, although it’s not strictly a social media search, I recommend that you Google your own name. You may need to add quotation marks to help the search engine find you, e.g. “Kath Sloggett”, and to add a location if you need to narrow the search further. The results of your search will probably include LinkedIn because, as we’ve explained before, it is a very well indexed website. But you may also see that your other social media profiles are included on the first page of search results.
You should check each item shown on at least the first two pages of search results, because this is what a future employer/recruiter is most likely to look at.
In summary, are you happy with the overall picture these items paint of you? If not, are there any posts or images that you would rather remove or hide? You are in control of your social media so make any changes you feel are appropriate or necessary.
Should I Make Everything Private or Not Post on Social Media?
Some of my clients ask if they should shut down all their social media or make everything private (i.e. unable to be seen except by ‘friends’, people you have connected with on that platform). That is for each person to decide, but I personally feel that a normal social media feed, which shows you as a well-rounded person, spending time with your family and friends, is an asset. If however your feed is all about how it takes you till Tuesdays to recover from partying every weekend, then you might need to tone it down or make it private. It’s really a question of judgement and of what you are comfortable sharing with people you might encounter in a work context.
How did you get on this with task? Any surprises that popped up for you during your social media audit?
And, now that we are firmly into Week 2, how are you getting on with the Jump in general?
We’d love to hear from you with any feedback, comments or questions, so please do get in touch.
Coming up in the January Jump, we’ll tick off another personal task tomorrow and then it’s time for a fun little weekend challenge for you!
Find out more about the January Jump, and catch up tasks, on the January Jump Homepage.
Join in the January Jump Conversation
Ask a question or let us know how you are getting on with your January Jump.
If you would rather ask your question privately, email us with the word “private” in your email title. We aim to answer all questions publicly (because someone else will probably be wondering the same thing) but we can do so without using your name.
Sorry we cannot provide legal advice or bespoke career advice as part of the Jump.
Please contact us separately if you would like to enquire about these services.
Already joined the Jump? We’re delighted to have you on board. Please ensure you have confirmed your email address (you should have received an email from us, which you need to click).
How about inviting some friends to join you? Research shows that people who talk about their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Signing up for the Jump is a fantastic first step. But what about inviting a friend or two to join you – to nudge you along and help celebrate at the end?
Want to share the Jump with your workplace or network? Great! Please get in touch and we’ll help you to spread the word.