Millennials fear social media may damage career

More than one-quarter (28%) of 18 to 34-year-olds in the UK do not know what information appears when their name is searched online, according to new research. 

A new study by Software specialist Norton and recruitment firm Reed has revealed that UK millennials must get smarter about managing their digital footprint if they are to avoid the pitfalls of cybercrime and threats to their reputation.

The survey of 1,000 mobile users aged 18–34 across the UK found that nearly three-quarters (72%) search their names online to see how they appear to an idle searcher, many do not like what they find. Of those who have searched their name online, close to 15% were surprised by what they found, and 17% have job-related worries due to social media posts.

The matter can be one with serious professional implications, with almost half (48%) of hiring managers indicating they found something online about an applicant that led them to not move forward with hiring. Meanwhile, one-fifth (19%) have applied or been contacted for a job, only to realise it was a fake opportunity or scam, with men (22%) being more likely to be duped than women (16%). 

Hackers’ phishing attacks can also have implications for one’s online reputation; over a third of respondents (35%) reported they had fallen victim to phishing, with 45% of reported account compromises leading to spamming of the victim’s online contacts, appearing to come from the victim directly. Other outcomes included impersonating the victim through e-mail messages and social media posts (16%), and posting inappropriate content (7%) such as private images, conversations or personal information.

Furthermore, around a fifth (22%) were shocked to discover content published online without their permission, 15% were surprised to find embarrassing comments they made on social media, while just under a quarter (23%) were surprised to find compromising pictures or videos of themselves. 

Martin Warnes, Managing Director at reed.co.uk said: “Today social media is a standard tool for recruiters to help choose who they invite to an interview. As the amount of online profiles we have increases, a simple search of a person’s name can reveal a lot about them and so we always advise candidates to give their online reputation a safety check before applying for a job. It’s equally important to avoid sharing negative references online that are related to work or your job hunt, as this is likely to be frowned upon by a prospective employer and may harm your chances.

“Instead, tailor your online presence to accentuate your talents, skills, and interests to prove that you’d be an asset to any employer. Some aspects of your online reputation could actually help move your application forward, such as adding in background information on employment history, qualifications, and posts/photos that give a positive and professional impression of you and your personality. It might actually help you get the job you want.”