Source: Reppler
In an effort to conceal personal information from potential employers, Facebook users have long learned to adjust privacy settings and name changes to disappear. But recently, interviewed hiring managers say this lack of social media presence is “suspicious”, an error of omission that hurts your chances just as much as a less-than-pristine Facebook page. Now that the expectation of having a Facebook is there, withholding the truth is that much harder.
When a jobseeker of the current generations, especially college age or below, claims to not have a Facebook page, it means one of two things. Either they deactivated it to hide some inappropriate behavior, or they are withdrawing from society to a questionable extent. Facebook and other social media sites are devices for networking and communication; someone that doesn’t bother to keep one immediately gives off the image that they do not connect with many friends. An employer would much rather see a healthy, moderate use of the internet. Hiring managers, after all, are searching for not just qualifications, but a new coworker to add to the team.
Expectations are also set for an interviewee’s online as well as actual presence. Younger candidates are more likely to receive tasks such as maintaining a blog or advertise online. Businesses nowadays need not only a front office, but a searchable website and staff members that are clued-in to the latest trends, talking points, and web activities. Even without those responsibilities, it is a plus to show proof that you are well-versed with social media. There is a certain, preconceived notion of the target youth population being one with an Iphone in one hand and a parent’s wallet in the other. If you know how to navigate the same channels, then you are that much more relatable to the impressionable consumer market. Impress the boss with that link as well, and you are that much more valuable an asset.
Not only is the internet a tool for personal use, but it is a tool for recruiters as well. In studying recruiting methods, Jobvite found:
“A whopping 92% of recruiters use social media today. Although LinkedIn is the most popular destination, two-thirds of respondents say they now use Facebook and more than half say they use Twitter.”
That means being big online gets you noticed. It can even get you a job.
Nevertheless, does this excuse mandatory Facebook scan-overs and analysis of an individual’s off-hours life? And is Facebook really a relevant source to get a feel for how professional or social a person may be?
No matter the morality of the debate, the changes in both the job market and business strategizing have never been more apparent. There is a lot more to starting a career than the traditional suite jacket interview and resume deal, and newcomers can only adapt to meet it.
Source: http://moneyland.time.com
