How companies are using social media to screen job candidates.

1. 5 Ways to ensure
you Never Get
Hired.
How companies are
using social media to
screen job candidates. #careerday11

3. On The Agenda
1. What is social media?
2. Who uses it?
3. Why should you care?
4. What NOT to do!
5. What TO do!

4. What is it?

5. What is social media?
Software (websites) that allow groups
to:
Ü Generate content (photos, video,
audio, writing)
Ü Exchange that
content
Ü Have a conversation

6. In Plain English

7. Why is it so popular?
1. Sites are easy to use
2. Make it easier to meet and connect
with people online
3. Learn about people before
contacting them
4. Free
- http://www.socialmediaonline.com/why-social-networking-sites-are-so-popular/

8. Who uses
it?

9. Is it a fad?
Social Media use of all US Internet users:
Ü Age 50+: 42%
(up from 22% in April 09)
Ü Ages 18-29: 86%
(up from 76% in April 09)
- Pew Internet & American Life Project 8/10
Facebook.com was the #1 visited website in
the US in 2010.
Second place: Google
- Experian Hitwise 12/10

10. By the Numbers
152 million Blogs on the Internet
200 million People on Twitter
Ü 25 billion Tweets sent in 2010
800 million People on Facebook
Ü 250 million New people on Facebook in 2010
Ü 30 billion Pieces of content shared on
Facebook per month.
-Royal Pingdom 1/11

11. @LadyGaga
14+ million followers

12. Why should
you care?

13. Employers are looking
Ü Now, 91% of employers use
social networks to screen prospective employees
Ü 69% have rejected a
candidate because of what they found.
Ü They use:
Ü Facebook (76%)
Ü Twitter (53%)
Ü Linkedin (48%)
Reppler.com study, Sept. 2011

14. Why employers
disregarded candidates
Ü Lied about qualifications
Ü Showed poor communication skills
Ü Made discriminatory comments
Ü Posted content about them drinking or using drugs
Ü Posted inappropriate photographs or information
CareerBuilder.com survey, December 2009

15. What NOT to do!
The Buffalo News, April 24, 2011
Let’s do a quick Google search.

16. Online=Public & Forever
Consider anything you post online to be
completely public.
Ü Facebook used to be private, but is
becoming more and more public.
Ü Advertisers can use your information
Ü Complex privacy settings, change frequently
Ü Even if you manage your privacy, apps and
friends can access your data and share it to
the rest of the world.

17. Privacy settings …

18. App settings …

19. Individual App settings …

20. App info through friends…

21. Public search …

22. In other words …

23. Some Examples
Thought you were managing your privacy online?
Think again…
Ü The WayBack Machine
Ü Google, Pepsi, Lego, ME
Ü Openbook
Ü “Got so wasted last night”
Ü “I hate my boss”
Ü Twitter Search
Ü Google Indexes Facebook
Comments

24. What
TO Do!

25. What TO do!
Ü 68% of employers have hired
candidates after screening their social networks:
awards
Ü Candidate received
and accolades
Ü Showed solid communication
skills
Ü Showed candidate was creative
Ü Provided a good feel for personality and fit
Ü Conveyed a professional image
Reppler.com survey, Sept. 2011

26. Before the Job/Intern Hunt:
Clean up digital dirt before you begin your job search.
Remove any:
Ü Photos
Ü Content
Ü Links
…that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
SociableBlog.com, January 2010

27. Before the Job/Intern Hunt:
Self-SEO – Google yourself!
Ü Build a portfolio website
Ü Create a LinkedIn profile
Ü Start Tweeting (carefully!)
Ü Start a blog

28. During the Job/Intern Hunt:
Socially Network!
Ü Follow and talk with industry pros on Twitter
Ü Join LinkedIn and Facebook groups to establish
relationships
Ü Participate in Twitter chats
Ü Recommend other’s work on LinkedIn
SociableBlog.com, January 2010

29. Get Involved & Learn More
Jobs!
Ü PRSA Jobcenter (prsa.org/jobcenter, @PRSAJobcenter)
Ü @PRJobs
Ü PRSABuffaloNiagara.org
Ü advertisingclubofbuffalo.com
Industry Twitter Chats!
Ü #journchat #pr20chat #HAPPO

30. And
finally…

31. The Five Ways.
1. Post Digital Dirt
2. Be a Terrible Troll
3. Have a Big Mouth
4. Establish Copious
Contacts
and Comments
5. Be Positively
Negative
“Social Screening” infographic, Mindflash.com

32. Recap!
1. What is it?
2. Who uses it?
3. Why should you care?
4. What NOT to do!
5. What TO do!

33. Questions?

34. Kevin Manne
New Media Specialist
Twitter: @k3v2
Email: kjmanne@genesee.edu

35. Not quite
done…

36. Facebook IRL

37. Thank you!

38. Social Media Icons: http://icondock.com
Profile photos: “Social Media for College Students” by
Jeffrey Zelaya on slideshare.net