What Employers Look For On Social Media Profiles?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Among the primary reasons employers hired a candidate based on their social networking site were:

candidate's background information supported their professional qualifications (38 percent)

, great communication skills (37 percent), a professional image (36 percent), and creativity (35 percent).

Do potential employers check your social media?

The short answer is yes.

It is completely legal for employers to check employees' social media profiles

. Some states even allow employers to solicit social media usernames and passwords from their workers. In general, state and federal privacy laws dictate what employers can and cannot ask for.

Do potential employers look at your social media?

Today, hiring managers are looking for your total picture—and that includes who you are online. … A recent study by the Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that

84% of employers recruit via social media

, and 43% of employers screen job candidates through social networks and search engines.

Do job interviewers look at your Instagram?

The answer is

yes

IF your social media accounts are inappropriate or contain anything you would not want a potential employer seeing. … Your social media presence is the image you are presenting to the world and your employers will continue to look at your profiles even after you've gotten an offer.

Why shouldn't employers look at social media?

When done improperly, a social media background check

can put your organization at risk for lawsuits

. … An employer researching a candidate on social media could easily learn that their candidate has one or more of these protected characteristics. This knowledge could cause a biased hiring decision.

What are some red flags that employers look for on people's social media accounts?

  • Posting Inappropriate Material. …
  • Ranting. …
  • Lacking Distinction Between Your Personal and Professional Lives. …
  • Poor Spelling and Grammar. …
  • Lying about Qualifications. …
  • Absence of a Social Media Presence. …
  • Posting Derogatory Comments. …
  • Plagiarizing.

What percentage of recruiters will look at a candidates social media profiles?

The CareerBuilder study found that

58%

of employers conduct social screenings to look for information supporting a candidate's qualifications for the job – 50% want to ensure the candidate has a professional online persona, and 34% want to see what other people are posting about the candidate.

Can employers look at your private Instagram?

One quick look at an applicant's Instagram account or any other profile can

reveal all kinds of personal information

, such as their sexual orientation or religion. This can open your company up to discrimination lawsuits if the candidate does not end up getting the job.

What do employers look for in candidates?

Employers like people who are

warm, friendly, easygoing, and cooperative with others

. Employers are looking for people who can join the team and be part of the work-family. Men and women with good personalities are invariably more popular and more effective at whatever they do. Teamwork is the key to business success.

How do you know if you're a best candidate for a job?

  • Read Their Body Language. …
  • Focus on Specific Experiences & Accomplishments. …
  • Evaluate Their Work Ethic & Attitude. …
  • Find out If They're a Life-Long Learner. …
  • Get Feedback From People Who Weren't in the Interview. …
  • Ask Them About Something They're Passionate About.

What shows up on a social media background check?

What is a social media background check? A social media background check is similar to other types of , like criminal checks. It

looks at a person's past behavior

since a person's past can be indicative of a person's future behavior.

Is it legal to use social media in the hiring process?

Bottom line:

a compliant social media screening is legal

, and you should consider it an extension of the traditional background screening process.

How can social media hurt your career?

Social media is a great platform for employees and job seekers to post about their accomplishments, portfolios and volunteering activities. However,

a slip-up can cost you your

career or ruin your chances of getting a job. … being used to fire people based on their ill-advised social media behavior.”

What is a red flag feeling in social media?

A red flag feeling is when

something happens on digital media that makes you feel uncomfortable, worried, sad, or anxious

. It is a warning that something might be wrong.

Is it a red flag if you don't have social media?

Having zero social media presence can indicate that you're inept when it comes to the interwebs. … If you don't have these social media skills, it can be a

red flag that you're inept, lazy or worse

. According to Forbes, two of the key personality traits employers look for are intellectual curiosity and self-monitoring.

What is red flag in relationship?

“In relationships, red flags are

signs that the person probably can't have a healthy relationship and proceeding down the road together would be emotionally dangerous

,” explains Dr. Wendy Walsh, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships. Note that red flags in a relationship might not be obvious.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.