How Employers Are Using Social Media To Find The Best Person For The Job

SOCIAL SEARCHERS HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR NEXT INTERNSHIP In 2012, employers report plans to increase internship hires by 8.5 percent over last year. The hiring process for interns is changing as well. Employers are now going beyond reading résumés and having interviews with candidates; they are also using social media to filter and find the best applicants. How can you use social media to find an A+ intern? Consider the following. PUTTING THE TRADITIONAL INTERVIEW ASIDE DON'T USE social media to of employers USE social media to research job 37% 11% research candidates, but plan to start. candidates. WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA SITES ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING AT MOST? f in. 65% FACEBOOK 17% 16% OTHER TWITTER WHAT HIRING MANAGERS ARE LOOKING FOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA Most hiring managers say they're using social media to discover more than what is usually revealed during a traditional interview. (Only 12 percent say they're using it to uncover reasons not to hire a candidate.) The majority are scoping out social media to find out more about: If the candidate presents himself/herself professionally 65% If the candidate is a good fit for the company culture 51% More about the candidate's 45% qualifications If the candidate is 36% well-rounded Reasons not to hire the 12% candidate Thanks to this extra investigation, nearly 3 IN 10 hiring managers (29 percent) say they have found something on social networking sites that caused them to hire a candidate. ARE YOU OK BEING CONTACTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA? 79% of college students are comfortable with employers reaching out to them directly through social media for internship and employment opportunities. These candidates are likely comfortable with their online profiles being reviewed because they've CLEANED UP THEIR PAGES AND CREATED PROFESSIONAL PROFILES say they've sent personal Facebook messages to at least 10 friends directly asking for help finding internship opportunities. posted a general note on their Facebook wail asking for help finding an internship. 47% 34% 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SOCIAL PRESENCE Want to land that summer internship? Think like a small business owner or hiring manager! HERE ARE FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOU STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: facebook facebook Linked in BE YOUR MOST 1. STAY CONNECTED . PROFESSIONAL YOU Employers look for an active social life, and like to see that you're connected and engaged with friends on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. Your social media profile and online interactions can reveal a lot about you. What impression do you want to give? Does your profile appropriately reflect the person you are and the type of company at which you'lI be happiest? RÉSUMÉ EDUCATION Linked in UPDATED WORK CALL ME EDUCATION INTERESTS WORK SKILLS TREAT YOUR PROFILE 3. LIKE YOUR RÉSUMÉ 4. BE ACTIVE, UPDATE OFTEN Make sure the education, experience, interests, and skills you highlight in your profile are the ones you want employers to see. Keep your accounts and profiles current and make sure your contacts, education, and job/internship history are up to date. facebook Internships.com conducted a survey of 524 people, revealing the importance employers place on referrals and the likelihood of hiring referred candidates versus candidotes found through online Jobs boards. 1IN 10 = 1IN219 = personal referrals is hired. 5. GET REFERRED! Your friend is someone else's co-worker. Don't candidates found through online jobs boards is hired. be afraid to ask your friends to refer your name to their co-workers or social networks. Word of mouth is still the number one way to get hired. SOURCES: National Associotion of Colleges and Employers (NACE) "Intorn Hiring Up 8S Percent." February 2012 Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder "What Are Employers Discavier ang About Candidotes Through Social Media? March 2012 | Interships.com on behad of Forbes "How To Use Social Media Sites To Land An tntornship." June 201 OnlineColleges lo000