CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

We all know that social media can bring huge opportunities and is an excellent tool for connecting and communicating, however, it can be the reason for employers not offering you the job, retracting a job offer, and even dismissing you after you start work. Your social media presence is something that you should take really seriously as you search for a job in any sector.

In 2021, there have been recent high profile cases in the world of entertainment and sports, where historic posts from social media are brought up and questioned by current employers.

So, as part of your job searching strategy – alongside writing your CV, planning a cover letter, practicing your interview techniques and learning tips for salary negotiation, do add in a social media cleanse.

We can’t stress enough that having a good look at your social media presence and making sure that the outside world sees you in the light that you want to be seen in as a school / college leaver or graduate is critical. Rather than perhaps your 14 year old self that you were when you set your accounts up. The content you put out there when you were younger is often still lurking in the background of searches.

Be honest with yourself, if your social accounts are littered with derogatory posts and problematic pictures, it could be the difference between you getting your next job or not. Cleansing and cleaning up your social accounts is very important as you embark on your job hunt.Spend some time going through your socials and remove anything that could put off an employer.

In the modern age, recruiters are highly likely to look at an applicant’s social accounts before inviting them to a virtual or face to face interview. It’s been documented in a number of studies that circa 75% of all employers will search through social media as part of their screening process when recruiting. More and more, it is being used as part of the process, to inform them who to invite to interview and even who to offer the job to.

It’s something to take seriously and think carefully about as you start to apply for jobs after leaving education.