Your attitude affects every aspect of your success. From day-to-day interactions with co-workers to content shared on social media, it’s easy to portray a personal image through your behaviors across a variety of outlets.
Online job searching is a double-edged sword. While social media sites can be a great way to network, they also allow employers to get a better look at you. Having a bad reputation and posting the wrong things online can greatly hinder your job search and keep you from getting hired. Here are four reasons your online reputation may be costing you jobs.
Your profile picture isn’t making you employable.
Just because your profile picture is “safe for work,” does not mean that it is working in your favor. That cropped photo from your cousin’s wedding conveys more to a recruiter than you think. According to a study by of Aeterno Media, 85 percent of top job candidates have high-resolution profile pictures shot from the chest up. Why? A clear, unobstructed view of your face makes you appear more trustworthy to recruiters.
You have friends in low places.
If hiring managers are really interested in investigating a potential hire, they don’t just stop at your profile. As much as you love that friend who never really outgrew the fraternity life, your future employer may not. Having a friend who is constantly posting inappropriate status updates and photos on your profiles can ruin your chances of landing a job. Pay close attention to how you interact with your friend and set some limits. Alert your friend that potential employers are reading your profile and change your settings to restrict who can post or tag.
You’re too active.
A common mistake job seekers make is over-sharing on their online platforms. However, if your job title doesn’t include the words “social media” posting too frequently on Facebook and Twitter can be frowned upon by potential employers. They will take notice if you’re constantly updating your status during the workday and start to question if you ever actually work. When you become the person who “likes” everyone’s updates and photos, you look like you have too much free time on your hands. Be mindful what you to share, when to share it and with whom. Your privacy and how you value and protect it is an important factor of your online presence.
Your accounts aren’t set to private.
Even if you follow all the rules, post only G-rated comments, and don’t take part in controversial conversations, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t adjust your online privacy settings. Over 70 percent of top job candidates have their profiles locked down. Taking control of your social media shows recruiters that you’re responsible — not that you have something to hide. Keep in mind; employers take into consideration how you approach social media, not just what you’re sharing.
Online networking can be a great tool for your job search, as long as you constantly assess your online reputation. By maintaining a level of professional reserve, limiting the content you upload, and checking your privacy settings frequently, you can ensure you’re more marketable to hiring managers.
Kick start your online job search by networking with the experienced recruiters at BOS Medical Staffing. Browse our open positions or contact us today to start laying the foundation for a better career.
