'Either you've specifically taken steps to make sure you can't be found or you're using a childish byname – neither of which feels very professional.' 'Whether it's intentional or not, this always feels like you have something to hide,' said Sims. More than one-quarter of employers say it's because they like to gather more information before calling a candidate, and 20% say it's because they expect candidates to have an online presence. While the fear of something embarrassing or negative being discovered might tempt some job candidates to completely erase their online persona, employers say that strategy can backfire.Ībout half of employers – 47% – said they wouldn't call a person for an interview if they can't find them online.

'When I check a candidate's Facebook or Twitter, my aim is more to get a sense of them as a person than to look for damaging information,' Erhard told Business News Daily. Most employers view LinkedIn as a secondary resume and other social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as more personal. 'I am personally most interested in the candidate's LinkedIn profile, as it's the most relevant.' 'The three main platforms that most employers check are LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter,' said Matt Erhard, senior partner at Summit Search Group. While it's important to audit every account, there are some platforms hiring managers are more likely to check, such as LinkedIn. Job seekers should assume that employers will check every social media platform. Social media channels employers checkīefore you apply for a job, you should audit your social media accounts. 'Because we tend to view our personal social media accounts as being 'personal,' there's a good chance that by viewing someone's profile, you'll get a glimpse into their personality beyond the resume,' said DeeAnn Sims, founder of Dark Horse PR. It could cost you your current job or future job opportunities.Īccording to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and about 43% of employers use social media to check on current employees.Įmployers look at social media accounts for an array of reasons, but many want to make sure a candidate will be a good fit with their company. What you post on social media could have serious repercussions on your professional life.

Sims 4 social media career