Employers are using social media more and more as a way of sorting through a list of potential employees. I have heard of several cases where the interviewee was dropped for consideration due to publically available comments on social media. Has anyone else heard of such cases?

In present day society, social media has become an important part of our daily interactions, more so than anything in our history. Never before have we been able, with such clarity and impact, to look back and see our thoughts and feelings, statements and involvement than with todays online presence. In the 30+ years I have been involved with retail, restaurant, business, and local and state government positions, I have often been involved in pre-screening applicants and resumes for employers. It genuinely surprises me to see poorly worded and mis-spelled words included in applications and resume statements in our atmosphere of automatic spell check. Not to mention the comments and statements that people post on various job search sites, such as this. Granted, yes, facebook and such are geared towards personal connections with family and friends, and employers will take that into account; but when you post a statement or comment on a job search site, it should be properly worded, properly spelled, and punctuated. If you can not read a statement in full without pausing, then it should be punctuated or broken down to more than one sentence. Please believe me when I say that employers do look to see if you have an online presence, how you conduct yourself, and how well you express yourself. They see multiple resumes and cover letters, and can easily tell if you have used a 'stock' letter, or have taken the time and effort to use that cover letter as an opportunity to present something of yourself they won't find in your resume. Are you involved with your church, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or Veterans groups? This shows networking and cooperative skills. Do you volunteer at a local school, daycare, or retirement home? This shows an awareness of the world and community outside of yourself. Do you quilt, garden, paint, do wood working or other crafts? This shows creative intellect and a desire to constantly improve on what has been done before. These are all traits that employers look for, that your past employment record will not show. Hopefully, my insight will assist in finding a job that suits not only your skills and abilities, but also your intellect and aspirations.

Hello Everyone, The Last time i was job Searching, that was before i had a Facebook page, of course and other Profiles, now days even if you were to apply at the Hospitals, and Insurance Companies, they would ask about a Profile, for Review, most of us, have heard, and see a Profile, like a Business Card, but why would anyone Create a Profile, if they are not even an Owner of a Small or Large Business, Really Reasons go on, but with my Case, it Means, Information about (you), That is Provided to Those to Request, that Information, we would think this would be Good enough to be Hired for a Job, but sometimes, websites want to take their Time, I have more than 5 Profiles now, and this seems to take a lot longer, because it makes it harder for Professionals to find my Information! my Question would be That should I keep Promoting my Profile even though, I think its going to Remain The way it is, that goes on a Resume.

I'm curious are there any job seekers out there that are concerned about their social media past - wondering if employers are going through it and factoring that into their decision-making?

Dedicated hard worker, works as supervisor with 6 years of experience in combining management and customer service expertise in entertainment and social media. Looking for a position as manager in a fast growth company.

This topic was probably brought up before, but i wonder if HR staff researches a person on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/etc., after someone applies. If you post things that might be controversial to some, maybe it's a good idea to temporarily delete your accounts until you get settled into a new job.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a new job idealy as Junior social media ( or Custormer service, French speaker job..) in London. I have experiences in this field. I'm actually Chef ( in a restaurant ) but it's definitly not for me.

Contact me if you are interested, thank you.

Regards,

I worked for north shore lijmc as a volunteer from 6/17/10 - 12/19/14 I was fired because I wrote a comment on Facebook that stated I want every single f@$&ing cop killed for killing innocent people and abusing their power. I never gave them permission to scan through my Facebook and they had the audacity to tell me that I no longer work here! Do you think I have a legal case against the company since they infringed on my freedom of speech? Any response is greatly appreciated!

I keep seeing a ton of unprofessional posts. People complaining publicly about the job hunt. I am on the job hunt too and it's no fun, but complaining on here where recruiters and people you will be interviewing with can look at what you have been saying is not going to help you.

I wish you all the best of luck and I hope to see fewer posts complaining about not getting jobs. Also to anyone out there looking for jobs, never stop applying. I have taken a break from applying for jobs a few times when I had interviews set up and I ended up not landing the jobs then I was weeks behind on my job search. Now whenever I schedule an interview I try to keep applying for jobs and spend extra time to research the company.

Best of luck, Josh

No one is perfect and we all make mistakes when it comes to our social media presence. We can fall into the trap of getting too comfortable, and run the risk of oversharing. Today more and more employers are using social media as a recruiting tool to look at potential employees, even using it as a way to decide whether or not to interview an applicant. The fix is easy, and here are a few best practices to take into consideration when posting to all of your social media profiles: Do not post anything you would not want a potential employer to see/read. Always be sure to check spelling, grammar, and use proper punctuation before hitting the “post” button. (I’ve included a few links to resources to help with writing skills below) Keep the negativity to a minimum or leave it out altogether. Employers want to hire people that are positive, can adapt to change or pivot when necessary, are open to new ideas, and are willing to pitch in wherever needed, etc. When picking your profile picture, don’t post anything your grandmother wouldn’t be proud of. If you prefer to not have your profile (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) viewable to potential employers, just keep your profile(s) private. When it comes to Jobcase, remember that your profile is the first impression you’re making with employers, and keep all of your info up to date! Keep the rants to a minimum. Jobcase is here to help each other talk through challenges. But there is a difference between ranting vs. calling to attention a challenge that multiple members may be coming up against, and working towards a solution together. Keep any references to alcohol or drug usage off of your profiles. Try to stay away from getting “too personal” resulting in oversharing And lastly, do not use profanity on your profile.

As promised, here a few links to resources to help in your writing and to assist in grammar, spelling, etc.! https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/50-free-resources-that-will-improve-your-writing-skills/ http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Proper-Punctuation https://www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources/ https://interestingliterature.com/2015/02/02/10-free-online-resources-to-improve-your-writing/

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