Social media profiles are becoming important to the hiring process for many companies. Since the practice of searching private profile pages is still legally gray area it is important to understand what you should and shouldn’t look for. Here are 5 things to think about when searching public profiles for your next hire.
- Be cautious about negative impressions. Many companies use social media to determine any red flags to prevent the hiring of a candidate. However, unless there are glaring issues that cross the boundaries of good taste or legal issues, you may want to think twice about using a candidate’s private life against them. Try to focus on the positive things that will help you make a hiring decision.
- Personality in action. Each member of your team has a unique personality that fits together to complete the puzzle. You may be able to get a glimpse of how someone new might fit in. Look at hobbies they might have in common with the rest of your team and that might be an indicator that they will get along well.
- Additional professional accolades. Often candidates add information to their LinkedIn profile that is not on their resume. You may see additional industry organizations or certifications for skills. This can help you determine if the candidate brings anything extra to the table.
- Review how they communicate. Written communications skills are as important as verbal ones, especially in an age where text speak is becoming all too common. Notice their overall tone in professional updates. Are there misspellings or grammatical errors? You may wish to review their Twitter profile to see how they communicate in less than 140 characters.
- Recommendations from Professional Contacts. Reference checks can provide mixed results. You may run into road blocks when companies will only verify the dates of employment. LinkedIn offers a referral platform in which candidates can request recommendations from former co-workers, employers, or clients. Look at these for more background information before you hire.
What are some other ways that social media can be used to prescreen candidates? CornerStone Staffing can help you navigate the process today!
