A lot of new generation companies are actually looking at the social media profiles of prospective employees and using these as a filter along with resume. Companies are especially interested in the recommendations and endorsements that candidates have on social media accounts like LinkedIn.

A fair amount of recruitment today takes place through recruitment consultants, who are mostly staffed by Gen Y operatives who are extremely savvy about social media, and therefore use them extensively to filter candidate profiles.

Here are some best practices that I recommend to candidates applying for jobs as far as their portrayal of themselves on social media sites is concerned:

  • Don?t use questionable language on your blog, website or social media account page.
  • Don?t share links related to adult content.
  • Don?t post updates about your drinking binges and related escapades on your social media account. If you do, restrict the audience that can view such information.
  • Don?t make comments or start polls on sensitive topics related to race, creed, religion, gender, politics, etc. Your posts should not give the impression that you have such biases.
  • Don?t bitch about your company.
  • Don?t leak your company?s confidential information on social media sites.

Always ensure that you share intelligent, relevant, thought-provoking links which portray you in a favorable light.

Can Blogging Give You A Competitive Edge?

Personal branding experts are now beginning to recommend that candidates start a blog so they can showcase their expertise and knowledge to future employers. The benefits of blogs are that they:

  • Show initiative on the part of candidate
  • Demonstrate discipline and ability to multitask if the blog author follows a regular cycle of posting
  • Demonstrate openness to share knowledge
  • Demonstrate courage to take stand, which can be inferred from blog posts

Good Read:?Human Resources Jobs: Skills And Qualities

All these are some of the key competencies that HR departments look for in senior management candidates, so a blog may help in demonstrating these as inherent traits ? especially because one doesn?t get paid to do one?s own blog.

Blogs can be big advantage if you are at a senior level role. C-suite and top management head-hunters take candidates? blogs very seriously, since they give recruiter an overview of their thought processes.

Tips For Women Candidates With Respect To Their Social Media Profiles:

Get good recommendations from your former managers and colleagues, but watch out for the statements such as ?She is very pleasing person?, ?My best friend? and ?She was a great party organizer?. Instead, your recommendations should reflect your courage, drive and willingness to work hard.

Strictly avoid male-bashing and making comments which demonstrate a negative bias against a particular. Instead, post articles which trigger progressive thinking, talk beyond lifestyles and parties and express your opinions on important topics.

Jappreet Sethi

2 COMMENTS

  1. I'm here by accident. I started reading and I have to tell you that your blog is great. You are writing so many interesting things. I can't agree with many of them, but it's ok. I will probably visit your blog more often. I would like to use your words on my own blog. Can I?May I? – Paula

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