Clean up your social media and build relationships through networking.
So your CV is sorted. Great. But there’s something else you need to do before you’re ready to search for jobs: check out your online reputation.
Online employment website CareerBuilder found that 70 per cent of employers research candidates for jobs using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Not only that, 57 per cent of them decided not to hire an applicant because of the content they found.
So, now’s the time either to clean up your posts and leave only what you might want a potential employer to see, or simply set your privacy levels to private. Of course, don’t do this with LinkedIn – that’s a professional networking site where employers are meant to find you – but do review all your posts and comments.
Next, you need to line up your references. A survey by Accounttemps found that one in three candidates are eliminated after a reference check. So choose people you know will give you an excellent recommendation – perhaps previous employers and coworkers or your teachers or professors if you’ve just left school. And don’t forget to reconnect with them when you give their names to a potential employer.
60 per cent of jobs are filled through networking – it really can be a case of who you know rather than what you know.
So how exactly do you network? First, invite everyone you know to join your social networks. That includes family, friends, alumni, acquaintances, second-degree relations, employees from your current company and previous ones, members of clubs and associations you’re in, members of your religious congregation, and so on. Like, retweet, share, or comment on everything and anything! The more you give on social media, the more widely you’ll be known. And tell everyone about your passions – most people who like your posts are probably worth connecting with. But maybe don’t share passions about things that could be divisive, like guns, politics, or conspiracy theories!
And remember, whether on social media or in real life, you’re networking for relationships – not jobs. Your real purpose is to get to know people better. Many jobs are never advertised because they’re created internally, especially for a known candidate. Perhaps that could be you. At ISH, we provide our residents with networking opportunities through our Alumni network, so keep an eye on our socials for updates.