There is no denying the importance of social media. It has transformed the way we work and socialize. 20 years ago, hiring managers could not have imagined the role social media would play in their decision to hire a candidate. But trust us, it does factor into their decision making. 

According to a poll conducted in 2018 by CareerBuilder, 70% of employers check a candidate’s social media posts as part of their screening process. An astonishing 54% of employers have turned down candidates based solely on what they found on social media. If that doesn’t make you nervous, it should. 

What does this mean for you? It means you really need to avoid social media problems if you want to increase your chances of getting hired. It’s very important to know exactly what is acceptable to post and what is not. 

So for this week’s post, we’ll walk you through what hiring managers look for, how to keep your profile squeaky clean, and why you might want to consider doubling up your accounts. First, though, you should know exactly what the social media screening process is on the employer’s side. 

What is Social Media Screening? 

To put it simply, social media screening is when a hiring manager checks public profiles to look for any problematic posts. The main three platforms checked are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter (now X). They can also check Instagram, Tik Tok, and even YouTube if you have a channel. 

The idea behind a social media screening is to see what you post, who you follow, who follows you, and what you’re being tagged in. The big platform most employers check is LinkedIn. This is kind of like the online version of your resume. Long considered the most professional social media platform, a clean, well-rounded, and up-to-date LinkedIn page is one of the easiest ways you can make a social media screening successful. 

It’s the more personal social media accounts, like Facebook, Instagram, and X where you can run into trouble. But first, keep this in mind: Hiring managers are not expressly looking for any damaging information. The goal is to get a more rounded idea of you as a person, ahead of what might be said in an interview. Hiring managers often scout social media well in advance of an initial interview. So keep that in mind, too. 

What Exactly are Hiring Managers Looking For? 

The thing hiring managers are looking for on your social media is clean content that demonstrates integrity. This matters most on your LinkedIn page. 

If you post regularly on LinkedIn, make sure it is as professional as possible. Share articles, follow relevant companies, and repost interesting content. These sorts of activities can demonstrate your interest in your field and staying up-to-date on current trends.

For other social profiles, hiring managers are, again, looking for a degree of professionalism. Avoid inappropriate photographs or videos, bullying, drug or alcohol use, untruthful information, nudity of any kind, complaints about your employer, complaints about your job, offensive memes or other material, being tagged in offensive material by friends, etc.

It’s on you to make sure your social media profiles accurately represent your good character. But how exactly do you do that? 

How to Keep Your Profiles Squeaky Clean

Don’t worry! You don’t need to panic and remove yourself entirely from social media. Having zero presence online, particularly LinkedIn can also be a disadvantage during your job hunt. So it’s fine to have a social media presence; it just needs to be kept on the up and up. Here’s how you can transform social media problems into social media benefits. 

What you put out on social media says a lot about you. So why not showcase the best parts of yourself? Put it out there that you’re someone who is knowledgeable, who knows trends, and who is passionate about your career. Don’t be afraid to share your accomplishments here. Sharing promotions, awards, and other positive life achievements will show employers you have what it takes to work at their company. 

If this seems almost too catered to professionalism or if you value your privacy, keep in mind there are ways of separating professional and personal accounts by creating private accounts. The idea is to have a public, professional account that you share with the wider world and one that is specifically for trusted friends and followers. 

Hiring managers are only conducting a preliminary screening, not an intensive background check. So it’s fine to perhaps have a private Instagram account, but a professional persona on LinkedIn and Facebook. Keeping one public and one private account on multiple platforms is also a great way to make sure boundaries are respected. 

Above all, just use some common sense. Think twice before posting something so you don’t face social media problems down the road. If it feels like someone might take offense to it, best not to post or share. It really is that simple. 

Ask for Advice from an Expert

Here at Masiello Employment Services, we’ve been in the hiring game a long time. We’ve seen trends come and go, as well as massive changes to the way people hire. And while social media presence is important, we believe human interaction is still essential. 

That’s how we’ve served the people of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont for over 40 years. Our talented team is here to help you find the job you were meant to be in. We work with companies to fill roles with quality candidates who can go on to make brilliant careers! 

So, if you’re hunting for a job and could use a leg up, come visit us at our Elm Street offices in beautiful Keene, New Hampshire on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. You can also reach us by phone Monday through Friday at 603-358-100. Can’t wait to meet you!