Social Media as the Double-Sided Sword for your Career
What role will social media play in tomorrow’s job search? Hiring? Firing?
The simple answer? It depends on the industry. The music industry is the field I am currently working in and when it comes to conduct on social media, it is quite laid back. It is known as the “it’s who you know” industry, so making those social network ties strong is key. I had a friend the other day who is in a great position in the music industry post a Facebook status saying she had a job opportunity and to PM her for details. Not too shabby.
If you’re working as a professional in the music industry, the way you act on social media has little to no effect on your job’s well-being. Business meetings often occur over drinks, so a picture posted with alcohol is no big deal. However, if you rant about your boss on Facebook and you have them added as a friend, there may be consequences there. So, be smart.
On the other hand, if you’re an artist looking to be signed by a label or get a manager to be interested in working with you, then yes, social media is everything. If there’s something I’ve learned over the past 4 years of my Creative Industries specialization in the Music Business, it’s that it’s all about the likes, the views, and how your material resonates with your fans/followers.
I chat with music professionals all the time and they all say the same thing: these days labels want an artist who have already established their brand and have built their following. They don’t want to invest the big bucks knowing fame is easily attainable through social media.
So yes, keep your social media consistent with both your brand/identity as an artist and also in your posting. Now that we’re all Hootsuite certified, we should have no problem getting our posts out there on a regular basis!
For other industries, it’s different. Last semester I wrote a 1500-word paper for my HR class on social media and recruitment and the textbook did say, “the majority of companies now use online recruitment, and a majority of Canadian workers use the Internet to research prospective employers, review job postings, complete online applications, and post their resumes.” I argued, “The creativity of a resume and the strategic curation of the digital footprint on Facebook and LinkedIn as a form of resume can affect the way that a potential employee is perceived”.
According to Buhalis and Ladkin, “Organisations can engage with prospective employees (B2E) through dialogue on SNSs [social network sites] to discuss career opportunities and encourage applications. Also prospective employees can engage in conversation on better preparing themselves to ensure best fit with the organisation (E2B)”. This is a great way for the company to attract talent and improve marketing tactics.
In the essay, I did point out challenges to having LinkedIn and Facebook as outlets during the recruitment and selection process such as tailoring your profile to “appear” attractive to employers, having incomplete profiles that lack important resume information, and the fact that using Faccebook as a pre-screening tool breaches privacy rights and can lead to lawsuits. One thing to remember is that LinkedIn is professional while Facebook is not.
I basically summed up the argument by saying, “It is important for both the employer and employee to recognize the lines between professional and personal”. Your digital footprint is important and depending on the industry you’re in, your presence on these platforms can either benefit or damage your reputation and opportunities for jobs. So, choose your industry wisely!
References
Chhinzer, N, Dessler, G, & Cole, Nina D. (2013). “Human Resources Management in Canada”. Canadian Twelfth Edition. Pearson Toronto.
Keith, S. (2016). “Social Media & Recruitment”. Human Resources Management. Ryerson University.
Ladkin, A. & Buhalis, D. (2016). “Online and social media recruitment. Retrieved from: http://www.emeraldinsight.com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2014-0218
Smith, W & Kidder, D. (2010). You’ve been tagged! (Then again, maybe not): Employers and Facebook. Retrieved from: http://journals1.scholarsportal.info.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/details/00076813/v53i0005/491_ybtamneaf.xml
