The job market is the latest avenue social media is invading.

Whether through Facebook, Twitter or Vine, employers are scanning social media profiles to gain insight about potential job candidates. And as the school year nears its close and students apply for internships and jobs, social media profiles can bolster or discredit candidates’ chances.

More than 67 percent of job seekers log in to their social media accounts more than three times per week, and about one-third of employers check candidates’ profiles to ensure they are professionally updated. In addition, about 45 percent of employers might choose not to hire candidates depending on whether their social media profiles exhibit use of foul language, alcohol consumption or discriminatory comments, according to an April 16 article by Forbes Magazine.

But Andrea Greenberg, a sophomore public relations major at Syracuse University, said sometimes it’s helpful to post on a social media profile.

“It is good to post some relevant things, like a blog post or an article that was published,” she said. “Also, it is important to provide links to your achievements for employers to see.”

Constant Twitter usage and profile padding are frequently used tactics when attempting to land employment, according to an April 19 CBS MoneyWatch article. Profile padding is defined as filling a social media profile with exaggerated qualifications and fictitious jobs or positions. This tactic often deters employers from viewing the job seeker as legitimate, especially if qualifications do not match a resume, according to the CBS article.

If a job seeker decides to use multiple social media accounts, it’s pivotal that all profiles are homogeneous regarding qualifications and personality description, according to Forbes. Proofreading is also critical to ensure profiles are typo-free and eloquently written.

The goal of a hiring manager in using social media is not to disqualify candidates from positions, but rather to fact-check and find information that might reinforce a candidate’s application. According to a 2012 CareerBuilder survey, 29 percent of hiring managers used a positive piece of information from social media sources to help a candidate land a job.

Jon Lee, a sophomore information management and technology major, said he agrees that social media profiles can help one’s chances of landing a job.

“I don’t have a problem with it at all. I feel like I don’t have anything to hide. I think it helps people clean their act, knowing that employers will be looking,” he said. “I use Twitter to mainly talk about sports, and I don’t link it to my LinkedIn. I keep that profile professional.”

Published on April 22, 2013 at 11:35 pm

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