May 10, 2018

How Your Social Media Presence Can Impact Your Candidacy

Before the rise of social networks like Facebook and Instagram, job seekers did not have a digital footprint to consider when applying for a job. Today, 73 percent of Americans use more than one of the eight major social media platforms, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center. The average user in the U.S. regularly logs on to at least three of the eight platforms. As social media becomes more popular, it’s becoming an important vetting tool in the hiring process. Your social media presence can both help and hinder your candidacy, depending on how you portray yourself online.

How a strong social media presence can help your candidacy

Social media skills are increasingly becoming a top strength for many fields across most industries. If you aren’t clearly displaying your prowess in social networking, you may be missing out on opportunities at top companies. When employers can see candidates strategizing, branding or marketing themselves through social media, they are that much more likely to view such individuals as an asset to their team. A strong and effective social media presence can give you a leg up against the competition.

When a social media presence – or lack of – can harm your potential

The No. 1 thing that 39 percent of hiring managers reported looking for in a review of a job seeker’s social media presence was questionable content or behavior, according to data from the 2018 MRINetwork Reputation Management Study Another 27 percent say active engagement in professional and trade associations throughout a candidate’s social media list is second on their list.

Nineteen percent of employers also reported that offensive social or political views presented on social networks were flagged when analyzing a candidate. As a result, keeping a clean profile and avoiding politics is a smart practice. Similarly, making your personal life accessible only to friends on networking sites, or creating a secondary, professional account can further benefit your candidacy.

What may be surprising to some job applicants is that a lack of social media presence can hinder your candidacy as well. Citing data from the CareerBuilder’s annual survey, the Society for Human Resource Management reported that 35 percent of employers are not as likely to consider an applicant for an interview if they do not have an online presence. Increasingly, recruiters are accessing the professional network platforms of potential candidates to research more about the individual.

The future of social media reviews

At present, the majority of employers do not conduct formal reviews of social media pages, often considered as similar to background or credit checks. However, the 2018 MRINetwork Reputation Management Study found that 18 percent of employers do perform these audits and moreover, a notable 17 percent of organizations are considering doing so in the future. This points to a growing trend of employers formalizing social media reviews and incorporating them as a key part of the recruitment and hiring process. Consider how your social media presence may impact your current and future candidacy.

News/Insights

Interview Tips for Dentists For Job Seekers

Interview Tips for Dentists

Jan 24, 2024

Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced Dentist, it's always a good idea to polish up your interview skills before jumping into your job search. Take a few moments ...

Beyond the Salary – Intangible Benefits for Dentists to Consider Job Search

Beyond the Salary – Intangible Benefits for Dentists to Consider

Sep 27, 2021

When looking at changing practices, financial compensation is often one of the first things to be compared. It's easy and quantifiable.  As you evaluate and compare differen...

Reasons to Use a Recruiter in a Candidate-Driven Market Job Search

Reasons to Use a Recruiter in a Candidate-Driven Market

Sep 1, 2021

We'll be the first to admit it's currently a hot employment market, with demand for qualified associates at unprecedented levels all across the country. If you're a dentist lo...

Two New Factors to Consider in Your Job Search Job Search

Two New Factors to Consider in Your Job Search

Aug 20, 2021

The employment market for dentists has never been better. That's good. But there are some things to consider that have been less important in previous years.  The package, f...

Maybe It’s Time to Go – 7 Signs to Start Job Hunting Job Search

Maybe It’s Time to Go – 7 Signs to Start Job Hunting

May 28, 2020

Every job has its good days and bad, but what are the signs you need to be polishing up your CV? At ETS, we work with practices and candidates every day, and these are the thi...

Job Seekers: It’s Time to Strengthen Your Personal Brand Job Search

Job Seekers: It’s Time to Strengthen Your Personal Brand

May 19, 2020

Dental practices across the country are going to take some time to rebound in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns. This will surely delay or slow down the hiring of Associates,...

Is a Personal Brand Website Right for Me? Job Search

Is a Personal Brand Website Right for Me?

Mar 9, 2020

There was a time that you literally had to be a computer scientist to create a website promoting your expertise. With the rise of Wix, Squarespace, Wordpress, and other platfo...

Looking for a New Job While Keeping Your Current Job Job Search

Looking for a New Job While Keeping Your Current Job

Feb 6, 2020

Nearly everyone agrees that the best time to look for a job is when you are gainfully employed. It can be tricky, but here are a few hints.  1) Don’t share with co-workers ...

6 Good Reasons to Look for a New Opportunity Job Search

6 Good Reasons to Look for a New Opportunity

Jan 27, 2020

At some point, virtually every dental associate finds themselves wondering if it’s time to seek greener professional pastures. Setting aside the justifiable trigger issues s...

Reasons Why 2020 May be the Best Time to Find a New Job Job Search

Reasons Why 2020 May be the Best Time to Find a New Job

Dec 23, 2019

As each year comes to a close, it is natural to take inventory of the things we’ve accomplished over the past twelve months. At the same time, we get to look forward to what...