What Does Your Online Presence Tell an Employer?

Hiring managers don’t just use resumes, cover letters, and interviews to form their impressions of candidates – online reputation is more commonly playing an integral part of the decision-making process. 52 percent of employers research candidates on social media, according to a 2015 CareerBuilder survey. This is an increase from the 43 percent reported in the year prior. Your online presence matters; learn what employers are looking for and how you can best present yourself online during a job search.

Attitude

A lot of candidates will share qualifications, but attitude is often what predicts a new hire’s success. Hiring managers will look at your online presence as a means to determine if you have a pleasant attitude that will cope well with workplace challenges. A major red flag during an online search is when candidates vent about their employers, so come across online as a positive person, not one prone to negativity.

Professional

Pay careful attention to what you use for profile pictures on social media to ensure they depict the image you want to portray to hiring managers. A basic headshot will make you seem professional, while a shot of you drinking at a party could lead them to question your judgment. When you’re job searching, verify your privacy settings on your personal photos or simply delete any that could be deemed inappropriate.

Communication

Your online presence and how you express yourself and interact with other people in discussions can be eye-opening for hiring managers in terms of assessing your communication skills. While it’s understandable that you may be more casual during your personal time online, hiring managers may look at your writing style and how you talk to others to evaluate if you’re a strong candidate.

Personality

More likely than not, hiring managers are reviewing the online presence of candidates not because they are looking for reasons to reject them, but simply to get to know them. The hiring process is a somewhat artificial environment with hiring managers having to evaluate candidates on their predicted success in a job in a workplace that will be in a different setting than the interview. Your online presence can give hiring managers a more comprehensive view of you that interview anxiety may have prevented from showing.

Make your job search more successful with Professional Alternatives. We serve the Texas area and match candidates to employers with available positions throughout a variety of industries. By working with Professional Alternatives, you’ll receive personal attention to enable you to find the right opportunities for you. Apply online to get started on your job search with Professional Alternatives.