We Search for Jobs — They Search for Us
Social media as a technology has grown exponentially in the last few years, becoming significantly important in the public and private sphere. Users document everything through these platforms, leaving a digital footprint for virtually anyone to see. While this may be ideal for self-branding and networking, this also creates a concern for present and future employment.
If the role of social media in the search of jobs was not already evident, then LinkedIn could speak for the entire industry. We have come to a moment in time where an entire social platform is dedicated to building professional networks, finding job candidates, and establishing careers. The entire ad-in-paper process is essentially over: we are in the digital age and are moving at a progressively quick pace.
Our frail economy has unfortunately led to a harsh and competitive job-hunting process. As a student working in the creative industries, I have witnessed just how hard it is to not only set yourself apart from the other thousands who are applying for the same position, but to gain a competitive edge. Enter self-branding. This idea of establishing a public persona, gaining an audience, and connecting with them is more important now than ever before. You could be the most talented musician/artist in the world, but the reality is if you don’t have a solid social media base, record labels most likely will not listen to your material, let alone sign you. This isn’t to say that everyone searching for a job has to have one million followers, but the content you post is critical to being considered: your representation is what makes it or breaks it.
Majority of hiring managers will now look at your online presence to see if you fit in with the company culture, what values and skills you will bring to them, and lastly, if there is any incriminatory content associated with you. Time and time again, I hear of people not getting certain jobs they were lined up for because of their inappropriate posts: too many partying pictures, revealing clothing, profanity, complaints about work, etc. In the era of surveillance, it isn’t surprising that we have reached this breaking point where even your privacy is up for discussion and judgment in a professional setting. If prospective employees could be hired solely through LinkedIn, what is to say that other social media content cannot lead to contract termination? Organizations monitor all relevant social media (including employees) as a way to ensure their reputation isn’t being jeopardized. Digital surveillance is already in motion; this is just one step further.
Currently, I believe social media will continue to grow as a means for companies to scan the world in search of talent, as well as a method of surveillance to maintain a positive public image of the organization and its human resources. Given our present standing, it would not surprise me if in the near future, businesses would require employees to hand over usernames and passwords to personal social media accounts, gaining full access and control to the last bit of privacy we have left.
