Can Having Social Media Limit or Benefit Your Career?
By: Alexa Le
Tags: Instagram, Job Hunting, Social Media, Careers, Jobs

Source: dole777 from Unsplash

There are certain points in time which we can acknowledge have radically changed our way of living. One of the most revolutionary turning points in human history has been the advent of modern technology and along with it, social media. It is widely regarded as the best way to keep the billions of people around the world connected, assuming that they have it because… why wouldn’t they? As someone who did not have social media for a long time, I have become a vigilant observer of this whirlwind transformation.

In an age where everything is digital, having no social media can metaphorically and literally set you apart from the rest. When you meet and become friends with someone, it is not uncommon to exchange social media handles during the first conversation. In fact, you don’t even need to meet someone in real life for this to become a reality! The appeal of social media is obvious too: you can communicate with someone around the world with just a few clicks on your phone, you can advertise for your new business at a lower cost, you can become Internet famous… the possibilities are endless and growing every single day. This mode of correspondence is unlike anything we have ever seen before, so it is clear why many would want to make the most out of it. But for the average user, social media is just used casually and for fun.

When someone decides to post a picture about their lively night out at the bar, it is usually an impulsive decision. However, what most do not realize is that this can have serious repercussions for their career, with managers increasingly using social media to either initially reach out with a job offer or judge if the candidate’s online presence and communication skills align with the values of the business. Surveys from 2018 show that 70% of employers will scroll through the social media feed of job candidates to determine if they are the right fit for the company, and about 43% still do this for their current employees as an extra security measure. Just like that, the seemingly harmless picture at the bar can suddenly turn into a whole lot more in regards to a current or potential job.

Now, these statistics might initially send you into an internal conflict over whether or not to delete your social media profiles, but it is important to first look at the flip side. Because digital technology has encapsulated our world to a large extent, it may even come across as suspicious if you cannot be found anywhere online. About 47% of employers are not as likely to call a potential candidate if they do not have any social media, as some believe that having an online presence is a critical part of the qualifications for a job. This may sound counter-intuitive to the statistics mentioned previously, but these all reveal a larger truth: your online presence is your life.

It sounds obvious, but it is something that many people forget when posting. One might just see it as a way to gain followers or show your friends and family what has been going on in your life, yet it is so much more. It is a reflection of who you associate with, your habits, and consequently, your character. We have all heard the horror stories of people doing things that are insane, illegal, or both to go viral, only to get in trouble because the incriminating evidence was posted online. With that same line of reasoning, your life is put out there for the world to judge. If the employer likes what they see, your chances of getting the job have only increased. If an employer does not like what they see, well… I don’t think I need to spell it out.

So what should you do?

We’ve talked about how your social media profile can either harm or help you, and it seems like you can’t win. But you can. The most important thing to consider here is balance. It is a good idea to at least have a social media profile, especially for sites rooted in use for your professional life. If you take no pleasure from posting on Instagram or Facebook like myself, I highly recommend investing some time to polish your LinkedIn profile, which can essentially function as a resume. Employers are increasingly perusing LinkedIn to make job offers or find out more about a potential candidate, and having a profile that not only reflects but also supplements the information on your CV can be an immense advantage in the process. It is the crucial intersection between the casual use of social media and the more rigid professionalism of a job interview.

However, if you enjoy using social media to document your life, you might think about making that social media account private to share with friends and family, then creating another that reflects the values of your career for the rest of the public. Even so, many employers would view a private account as showing that you have something to hide, which does not bode well. A better solution would be to just delete any raunchy or overly-unprofessional photos, making the process that much simpler.

How can you monitor what your employers see in the future?

It is often said that social media is just a highlight reel of your life, which is a great thing in this case. That means that you control what you want them to see and more importantly, how you want them to see you as. You have all the power here, and you should use that to your advantage. This especially comes into play when you are in the midst of job hunting and you have not established a strong foundation in your chosen field.

Think of your social media as your second life. Most people wouldn’t share such intimate details about their lives with their coworkers, yet have no qualms about displaying them online for them to see. It has never been easier for others to find out personal information about you in an instant, and this extends to people who you might not necessarily want to have such details. Just like how you give off a first impression when you meet someone, your social media profile does as well. It might not show the whole story and might even be misconstrued, but it is still judged nonetheless.

The moral of the story is to deliberate before you post. It can take about 20 seconds to decide whether or not to post something, but the effects will be tremendous and lasting. In today’s world that is shaped by advanced technology, your career is molded by a plethora of various factors, and your social media is increasingly becoming one of the most predominant. So put in that extra effort, because it will pay off in the long run.