Despite three quarters (77 per cent) of young people (aged 14-25) being aware that potential employers are checking social media profiles before hiring them, a quarter (24 per cent) still have no privacy settings in place and further one in ten (11 per cent) are unsure if they are protected or not.
This lack of awareness could harm their employment chances, which is why LifeSkills created with Barclays is enabling young people to boost their employability by using social media in a positive way, with the launch of a new LifeSkills CV Builder.
Research shows that nine in ten employers will review a candidateโs social media profile before making their hiring decision. Yet, the LifeSkills Youth Barometer found that more than one fifth (22 per cent) of young people regularly post pictures of events that might paint them in a less than positive light. One in ten (11 per cent) also admitted they post pictures of themselves drinking as a common occurrence.
However, your social media profile could be a real advantage to your employment opportunities if harnessed in the right way. LifeSkills has launched a new CV Builder that can connect a young personโs Facebook and Twitter accounts to supercharge their CV. The CV Builder then guides candidates through a simple step-by-step process to further populate their CV, providing helpful hints and tips along the way.
Hereโs how to present your best self online, courtesy of Kirstie Mackey, Head of LifeSkills created with Barclays:
1.Spring clean your social media profiles
Itโs important to remember that what you do and say online could be seen by anyone, and will be there forever. Decide which social networking sites you want to keep away from work and use privacy settings to ensure your New Yearโs Eve party pictures donโt spoil your chances with potential employers. Make sure you also remove/delete any social media profiles no longer in use. Just because youโre not updating your old Bebo and Myspace accounts doesnโt mean they no longer exist.
2.Make sure employers know youโre available
When writing your social media bios, particularly for LinkedIn, remember employers could read it too. This is your chance to not only highlight your skills and achievements but also show you are available to work in that industry too. If youโre looking for a full time position in a certain field then donโt be afraid to say so.
3.Ensure your email address is professional
When sending potential employers your CV, the first thing theyโll see is your email address, so make sure itโs professional. You wouldnโt want to send a company an email using your childhood address of lil.mix.trouble@xxxx.com. Create a new professional account that can be used for jobs and building contacts.
4.Donโt be afraid to highlight your life experiences
Social media doesnโt have to be used solely for selfies and life updates. Why not upload photos and videos of your life experiences such as work experience, volunteering and achievements. Social media can be a great way to show your creativity and personality, so you could turn your work experience into a Vine. With employers checking social media accounts, pin the updates that most highlight your experience. These will remain at the top of your profile and will be the first updates employers will see.
5.Share your friends achievements too
While a lot of people like to use their social channels to highlight what theyโre doing, try doing the same for your friends too. This will not only showcase that youโre a team player, but also that youโre supportive and motivating when it comes to peerโs accomplishments.
