September 19, 2013
Forbes.pl

The whole truth about job hunting and social media

Social networking sites are a mine of knowledge about candidates, and yet many recruiters do not pay attention to them. Or at least not all of them. However, Internet activity can significantly help or effectively prevent you from getting a job.

Krzysztof Domaradzki: Facebook can do harm in the first place.

Monika Ciesielska: The case with Facebook is more complicated. Although it is not the basic work tool for HR specialists or head hunters, it does not mean that they completely ignore it in the recruitment process. It is unlikely to help the candidate, but it may stop his career instantly. – Facebook can, above all, hurt a candidate very much. If a person publishes information about himself, boasts of pictures of a questionable nature or gives controversial statements, the red light turns on. Then we either scrutinize the candidate more closely or give up on him.

Krzysztof Domaradzki: What do recruiters use? If the largest social networking site in the world does not play a key role in the recruitment process, is there any other? In Poland, even two websites are used for this: LinkedIn and GoldenLine.

Monika Ciesielska: While LinkedIn is addressed primarily to representatives of top management, representatives of various professional levels participate in GoldenLine. Most often, however, they are specialists and higher-ranking employees. Managers in lower positions can be found on both sites. Management staff – only on LinkedIn.

What both websites have in common is that it is not enough just to be on them. You have to be active, interact and emphasize your skills or interests. Not only the professional profile itself is important, but also the statements we place there. They should be balanced. Head hunters pay attention to this. It is important to avoid obscene and highly emotional statements in which you can see, inter alia, Inability to cope with stress or communication problems.

The article by Krzysztof Domaradzki can be read HERE.