Hiring Managers Checking Your Social Media Accounts

By: Christina Cattau

Remember the good ole days where you would show up for an interview and the hiring manager only knew your name and a short biographical history about you. You had that initial moment to make your first impression with your freshly pressed suit, firm handshake and pristine resume.

Hiring managers did not have access to google, Facebook or Twitter. They were not able to act like Big Brother and tower over you knowing all the intimate details of your life. Social media has changed the hiring process. Now, hiring managers know all about you before the interview since they have the ability to check Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Vine, Instagram, Google and the list goes on....

When I was applying for jobs 12 years ago, I did not have a Facebook account or Twitter. The company did not have an inside view of my history when I was 24, but I honestly had nothing to hide. When I taught Business Communications, I stressed to my students the importance of checking their MY SPACE and the evolving Facebook accounts at the time, as employers checked these sites frequently to do leg work before an interview. It provided them with insight about a potential employee. I further emphasized that the photos of them doing a keg stand was not appropriate and in 10 years, they would feel differently about those photos. My students obviously were proud of their photos, but any future employer would say no, I don't think...next person please.

Every single post on Facebook and Twitter is scrutinized by a hiring manager. It communicates to them how you deal with life: joy, challenges, frustrations and difficulties. These translate over into the workplace as well. Would you have the same attitude with clients or customers when handling a situation? So why do they do this? Is is entirely fair to the population applying for jobs?

Yes, it is. You are obviously brazen enough to post the information to your social media account and put it out there into cyberspace then you should not be worried about anyone seeing it. Right? Hiring managers utilize the information to eliminate any candidates who could potentially pose an issue to their company or create drama. If your social media account is littered with comments bragging about you ridiculing another person, you may not necessarily be the person for the job.

My suggestion: Look over your accounts before your job search. That crazy night from the Justin Timberlake concert in the party limo with you doing shots may not be a selling point for a hiring manager. It may come back to haunt you.

Also, if you are constantly focused on your weight and your material looks that may communicate something to a future manager as well that you care less about getting ahead professionally and more about your exterior looks. Your inner talent and beauty are most important. Clearly, I understand looking professional and being confident, but constantly posting your weight and photos of your bare stomach is not professional. Posting a photo of you dressed professionally in an outfit that gives you confidence is awesome.

Also, when you click on a Facebook profile, even if you are blocked, you still can view a profile photo and some of those posts you think are set to hidden may be viewable to an audience. Remember to check your settings. Also, every single tweet is archived at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Unless you are applying for a job in Siberia, you can count on hiring managers looking at your accounts.

Nothing is full proof. We live in an electronic age. If you put something out there, be prepared....it could go viral.