By Randy Wooden, Director, Professional Center by Goodwill, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina
In a word, yes. More than ever before, employers are likely to search your name on Google as well as take a look at your social media pages to get a sense of your online presence and professionalism.
Whether it’s Facebook, LinkedIn or a host of other sites, employers will often view your information and base their hiring decision, at least in part, on what they see. This means you’ll want to ensure you’re posting appropriate content, particularly when it’s made available to the general public.
As a general guideline, when you post/share/comment on social media sites, ask yourself whether it’s something you’d feel comfortable having your parent or your employer see. Then, “when in doubt, leave it out.”
When employers view your Facebook or Twitter, they’re typically looking for a glimpse into your judgment regarding what is and is not appropriate.
When they check LinkedIn, employers will typically look to see whether you are utilizing the web’s top site for professional networking. If you’re a professional and not on LinkedIn, that may raise concerns from an employer. If you’re on LinkedIn but your page is skeletal and you aren’t active on it, not only are you failing to avail yourself of LinkedIn’s value, but a potential employer may wonder why you’ve chosen to ignore such a widely popular professional social medium.
Social media can be fun and informative. It can also potentially get you passed over for a job. If you need help to assess your social media profiles or need additional assistance in finding a job, contact a career coach at your local Goodwill.
