It may have come as a surprise to some that the older generations in the workforce were less cautious about how their careers were perceived online.
At least this was the finding of a survey by CV-Library, which claimed that 16 to 24-year olds, also known as Generation Z, are more likely to be aware of the risks of posting pictures on social media or that a potential employer might look them up on Google.
It’s an interesting paradox that younger candidates are much better at building an online presence, yet do so fully aware of how they might be perceived by potential employers, while the rest of us seemingly throw caution to the wind, according to CV-Library.
But awareness of our online personalities is something workers of all ages needs to develop. Historically, the first time your new employer would really get to know you would be on the first day of your new job. But now your manager and team mates can Google you or find you on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to gather up a first impression of who you are. And if the first thing they find are those birthday photos, your impression on them won’t be great.
Indeed, one of the factors brought up by CV-Library’s survey is that certain aspects of our online profiles could lead potential employers to discriminate against candidates, and this isn’t just a case of unconscious race or gender bias. People make judgements based on what they see us doing, the language we use, even things like hobbies or the football team we support, so it’s important to cultivate an image you wouldn’t mind a new employer seeing and judging.
Whether it’s your own profile or that of your candidates, make time to do a social media audit. Adjust privacy settings on Facebook, and on publicly viewable platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, edit the photos you show and the language you use. It’s not about creating a ‘perfect’ image of someone who doesn’t like to have fun – you need to keep some personality in there – but think about how it complements your career aspirations and role.
As software becomes more sophisticated and employers deploy ever greater search mechanisms to find the best candidates, giving the right impression will become more important than ever.