today, social media is ingrained in our lives – it connects us through the filter of meals we’ve had, declarations of love and our political opinions.
People are accustomed to sharing insights into their personal lives and views with strangers.
It's not just your friends and family checking out your latest post; recruiters and potential employers are using this information to build a more detailed and in-depth picture of you. They want to understand the real you.
your personal information is at recruiters' fingertips.
Intelligent candidates know this. Moreover, they use their personal brand to their advantage to complement the other information collected through formal channels such as traditional reference checking.
It's easy to look through a candidate's resume and match technical skills to a role, but a part of the value recruiters bring is finding the right person for a company and the right company for a person.
Our team focuses on the human element of the process and seeks a deep understanding of our clients and candidates.
Social media gives a different perspective on a potential employee's character and, in some respects, probably a more accurate view.
so what you put on social media and how you craft your brand is vital to your success.
Our consultants look at a candidate's Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter profiles. They want to see that your lifestyle, views and opinions fit the company's culture well.
You may see LinkedIn as your' work persona' and Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram as personal, but the lines are blurring as your profiles become easier to find and match up.
Think about who you are and what you stand for – if your friends and colleagues were asked to describe you, what would you want them to say? Once you've worked this out, see whether these descriptions are reflected in your public profiles or consider what changes you could make.
You don't need to hide your political beliefs, declarations of love or your affinity for burgers, but it's a good idea to behave as you would if you were face-to-face while your boss was in the room.
In all interactions, be respectful.
beyond this, some ways to use social media to build a positive personal brand include:
- Show your collegiality by congratulating your peers on their achievements on LinkedIn and Facebook. Do this without hijacking the conversation to talk about your own.
- Endorse and recommend deserving contacts on LinkedIn – they may return the favour.
- You can also ask current and former colleagues if they would be happy to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn and if you email them a draft of your request for them. They might return the favour and allow you a first look at any comments they are planning to leave about you.
- Join industry or role-relevant groups on LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Contribute to discussions where you can add value – this is an opportunity to build your profile (hello, headhunters) and show that you'd be a constructive part of a team.
- Remember that 'hobbies and interests section of your CV? Recruiters and hirers want a well-rounded person to join their team, so don't pretend you're all about the job 24/7.
- Share your football team's grand final photos, shots from your weekend spin, or pictures of you with your family or friends on Facebook and Instagram.
- Showcase the best aspects of your life.
- Switch your profile pictures – use a professional headshot for LinkedIn (a photo that captures how you'd want to look in an interview) and a more relaxed image of yourself for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
