Whether it is right or wrong, some employers are checking you out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google and Twitter before they even consider you for a job. Why would potential employers do such a thing? Because they can and you are letting them!
Is it legal for employers to check and research candidates using sites like Facebook and LinkedIn? If a company states this as part of their screening process and systematically follows this protocol for all applicants, they are thought to be in compliance. Companies get in trouble legally when they become selective with their screening process when using social media sites. If they check you out in social media and eliminate you because of something they saw on your Facebook account, all potential candidates MUST be screened the same way.
This is why we have always told companies NEVER use social media to do background checks. Social media is social and should be kept this way. However, nothing can stop employers, friends and new acquaintances from checking you out. If you Google Roger Lear, you will see a lot of my articles and employment related items. However, you will also see another Roger Lear that has been abducted by aliens. I hope I dont need another job anytime soon!
Right or wrong, someone will check your credentials and want to learn more about you using social media in the future.
Be prepared by doing the following (especially when engaged in a job search):
Privacy Settings A: Make your online identity private if you do not want anyone to see your information in places like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Privacy Settings B: Make your online presence public. Use the power of the internet to supercharge your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. Make sure your profiles are professional, clean, up to date and have relevant status comments updated regularly. Really enjoyed the claims professionals meeting in Orlando last night would be a nice status.
Photo: During a job search, get a professional head shot posted to your social media accounts. It will make a difference.
Google your name and city in quotes. (Your name + City). What comes up? This is what an employer will find and if you dont like what you see change the things where you have control. In the case of mistaken identity (people do have identical names), this may become an issue because you cant change these findings. However, by creating accounts in other social media with your name and city (Twitter, Classmates, Zynga, Blogger, Word Press) the keywords created will push the bad stories to the second page of the search results. It really works!
Really worried? Delete all your accounts.
If you use social media correctly during a job search, it will enhance your chances of getting a job in your chosen field. But just like a resume, it is very hard to decipher what each individual company is looking for when they look at your online presence.
Just remember, many companies and recruiters are just recruiting directly through social media and if they cant find you, you will never have a way of finding out about certain jobs.