Social media has become a major part of the job search process, and Facebook is a central focus. Nearly half — 43% — of recruiters use Facebook to evaluate candidates when hiring, according to the 2016 Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report.
Therefore, if you’re having trouble finding jobs in Allentown, PA, you might have your Facebook profile to blame. Set aside an hour to make some adjustments to your page, because your job search depends on it.
4 Ways to Get Your Facebook Profile Job Search Ready
Enable Privacy Settings
Facebook allows you to enable privacy settings for every post, so take advantage of this feature. Make work-related content publicly available, so hiring managers can see it, as this can boost your candidacy. Put everything else on lockdown so only friends have access, because your personal life doesn’t need to be on display.
Audit Your Page for Debatable Content
Enabling privacy settings on non-work-related Facebook content is a start, but that doesn’t mean it can’t reach a hiring manager. The only way to truly keep Facebook from hindering your job search is to remove anything that could be deemed even remotely controversial. This includes content you’ve shared and material you’ve been tagged in by others. Hot topics always include religion, politics, and of course anything illegal, but use discretion on other subjects too.
Choose Nondescript Profile and Cover Photos
Your current Facebook profile and cover photos are public by default, so select images you’d be proud for your future boss to see. General guidelines include making sure you’re fully clothed — i.e., no swimsuit pictures — and not doing anything that could be deemed controversial. For example, don’t choose a photo where you’re smoking, drinking alcohol or wearing a politically-charged t-shirt.
Think Before You Post
Now that your Facebook profile is polished, keep it job-search ready by using common sense before posting content online. If you’re at all unsure whether a topic is too controversial, it probably is, so don’t do it. Instead, call a friend and have an old-fashioned offline conversation about whatever it was you were going to share on social media.
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