Social media has become a part of everyday life for many individuals, but can it impact your future job prospects? According to a survey by The Harris Poll, 55% of employers who use social media screening say they have found content on social platforms that has caused them not to hire a candidate.

Here are our top tips for social media usage throughout your job-hunting process:

1. Audit your social presence before applying for new roles

A great place to start in gaining an understanding of what information is available from your social media platforms is to perform a search of your name across a well-known search engine. It’s important to understand what information comes up at face value on a basic search that could be performed by a potential employer. Once you’ve assessed the information that appears, you can act accordingly on each social profile.

2. Make profiles and content private

Though social content should be uploaded for your own viewing and the viewing of friends and family, certain content should be restricted from the eyes of a hiring manager. It may be wise to hide any content that does not represent yourself professionally, and keep personal profiles private. This can be done by limiting those who can view certain posts or by making profiles completely private.

3. Be mindful of what you post and share

While being active on social media is positive, users should be mindful of what they are posting on their platforms. Profiles should be free of any offensive/tasteless language, content and interactions, if this is not a true reflection of your personality. Any inappropriate content could significantly hinder future job applications and associate said individual with views or actions that may not reflect positively upon their application and wider personality.

4. Separate personal and professional

Social media can also be beneficial to your application as long as you separate your personal and professional life. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn could be an essential element in your application, offering more information about your career and qualifications. By ensuring that your professional profiles are regularly updated and contain only relevant and useful information, it could create a positive online image that could enhance your status as a potential candidate for a role.

5. Be truthful

On both personal and professional platforms that may appear when searched, it is important to be truthful. Do not fabricate or exaggerate details, such as qualifications, as these will often be questioned and sort out online throughout the application process. Any false information on your profiles will often come to light and could be damaging to your chances of getting hired.

If you’re looking for your next role, please take a look at our current vacancies.