How do companies screen their prospective candidates? We put this question to a number of UK job experts, and we’ll be featuring their comments this week and next. Here’s what they had to say:
Daniel Greenberg, chief marketing officer of Simply Hired, believes each social networking site has its own rules for communication and the approach for each should be unique.
"Join relevant groups and discussions on LinkedIn, follow recruiters and employers on Twitter, and leverage your connections on Facebook. While each site is different, always keep an up-to-date online profile for all social sites (think of Twitter as your “elevator pitch”!)"
According to career coach Hannah McNamara of HRM Coaching Ltd, when you are updating your social media profiles you should treat them as you would a CV:
“When you’re updating your social profile, think about whether you would put the same information on your CV. While you might not want your date of birth, marital status or other sensitive information on your CV, people are putting it out there in the online world without a thought. Aside from the fact that you are opening yourself up to the risk of identity theft or fraud, you’re giving prospective employers information which might be used to make a decision on your suitability for the role.”
McNamara also brings up the idea that social networking and regular updates of your social media profiles can do quite a lot to increase your visibility with recruiters.
“Your online presence can help to boost your profile if you include achievements and endorsements from people you’ve worked with. Social networks also allow employers to see who you’re connected to. They can see mutual contacts and if they’re using LinkedIn see how connected you are to one another.”
It’s also worth keeping in mind that while whatever is online is considered in the public domain, it is still a great way to find new candidates. Chris Muktar of WikiJob, one of the UK’s largest graduate careers sites, says,
“We consider information that candidates have published are open for all to see. Professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn make it extremely easy to find workers with great skills and personal recommendations. Twitter can also be a great way to advertise - we've recruited several people using this method.”
Muktar assures us that good candidates can rest easy that they will give them an interview, regardless of what they find online.
Finally, don’t forget to actively use your social networks in your job search on SimplyHired.co.uk. Our Facebook integration personalizes the job search process by allowing job seekers to discover jobs based on their Facebook profile and friends. Using our Who Do I Know feature, you will be able to see your professional connections from LinkedIn in line with employers in your results.
How do you use social networks and online profiles in your job search?
