Black Sales Journal

I wanted to share the results of a recent survey by Jobvite, a leading developer of software for job recruitment in social media.  Jobvite’s research indicates a survey of 1,600 recruiters indicated a fact which we all have been concerned about.

The question posed to recruiters was:

Have you ever reconsidered a candidate based on their social profile?

Yes 42%     No 58%

Yes – 42% of recruiters have indicated that they have reconsidered candidates based on their social profile!

Social media can be fun, informative, and enjoyable….depending on who is looking at it.  It can be all of those because it is not the medium, but more how you use it.    Social media involvement is voluntary, and thus the problems that happen as a result of using it are self-imposed ills.

I know some professionals who are wise enough to establish a social media “alias” that will allow them to enjoy social media use and give personal freedom while preserving their privacy.

However you elect to enjoy social media, you will want to remember that you’re ”broadcasting” your life, and you need to be prepared for individuals to interpret or misinterpret everything you say or do.

There has been much press regarding this topic.  The way you handle your social media could possibly interfere with your ability to get, and sometimes keep a job in the digital age. With Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, and many other social media outlets, even the most devoted sales professional could stand the risk of distraction.

Additionally, if you allow your personal business to be made public, it will come back to haunt you.  Without the careful filtering of your participation in social media sites, you could be making your private life public.

The power of social media is amazing but utter the wrong thing and the ability of social media to go viral could change your life, or at least your employment status.

Using Social Media On the Job

This is an interesting proposition. I was in a group classroom setting in a social media class when the professor asked if any of us knew our employers policy on social media and electronic media. Sadly, 3 out of 20 people raised their hands.  You should have a copy of it if you are engaging in any social media at the workplace , and if you do any social media mentioning your employers while on your own time.  Normally it can be found on your company’s intranet site, or requested from human resources.  In most cases it describes the things that are important, and you will quickly be able to scan it and tell if it is a templated policy, or if it has been tailored for your employer’s needs.

A couple things you do know:

• Avoid criticizing your employer in any social media. It is that simple.  On your e-mails, if on the company email system, I would suggest avoiding any negative references to your boss, your company, or your company’s information.

• Organizations have an ability to track your usage of personal media sites/social media sites in terms of keystrokes and time spent. Make an assumption that they do it! Is it worth losing your job to respond during the workday?

• A preoccupation with social media on the job is widespread. An organization called Nucleus Research of Boston; Massachusetts indicates that 77% of American workers admit to using Facebook while on the job. Think about being the employer who is trying to explain difficult financial performance when it determined that of that 77%, 87% state that had nothing to do with their job duties.

When employees were dealing with predominately e-mail 10 years ago, it was not a big deal.  After the explosion of social media it becomes evident that participation in social media can be very time-consuming.

Many  sophisticated employers have blocked the sites for social media on the job.  In most cases, you will be making entries with your own equipment including your cell phone or tablet.  Be smart there as well.

Using Social Media at Home

Your use of social media in your private life shouldn’t be a big issue. The problems occur when the theater of social media shows you in compromising situations, and is seen by a manager or coworker.

A few examples are:

• A intimate relationship between a manager and one of his direct reports, an act which is proscribed in almost every organization, was discovered when it was posted on one of their Facebook sites.
• A rant about a manager and the employer was posted on Twitter and seen by the manager. The words, though limited to 140 were “damning” and ended with a ‘reassignment’ of the employee to less favorable duties.
• Entries and tweets that are full of tough language and sexual connotations will haunt you as has happened to many who thought their comments were shielded.

As sated to start this piece, prospective employers and recruiters resort to perusing a Facebook site to determine the ‘personality’ of an applicant.  It might not feel right, yet it happens.  What they are really getting is a listing of the personal activities of the candidate.  When they see you with the bottle of vodka in one hand and something we hope is a cigarette in the other, they may make a decision that is…well let’s just say not in your favor.

One Last Point

Black professionals increasingly realize the need for discretion and forethought in this important area. Why?…. Because there is a general ignorance and curiosity regarding how you live your life because of the difference in cultures.  Show them only what you want them to know, or nothing at all.  Wisely protect yourself, your family, and your career.

You are constantly being evaluated as a sales professional; that is something that you cannot change.  No one needs to be afoul of the rules that govern the workplace or business as a whole.  Avoid transmitting anything regarding your company on social media no matter how safe and secure you think it is.  Additionally, avoid using your personal computer or hardware to “broadcast” anything on social media pertaining to your company, an employee of your company, or your work situation.

Be smart and aware and always be the professional.

Your comments are welcome. You can reach me at Michael.Parker@BlackSalesJournal.com.

The job search conundrum can definitely be a routine.  The problem is that it can also be one of the biggest wastes of time imaginable.  Why are you working so hard to find a suitable position when you’re the real power is in recruiters seeking you out?

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I had an opportunity to review a compelling report called the Jobvite 20015 Recruiter Nation Survey. Jobvite (http://jobvite.com) is a forward-looking San Francisco company that specializes in recruiting software and applicant tracking software.  This organization is on the cutting edge in recruiting platforms.

I am going to share some of the Jobvite finding that may really help you in your job search.

Jobvite 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey –  A Few Important Points

Over 92% of recruiters will use social media to find you! – Of the major platforms out there, 87% use LinkedIn, 55% use Facebook, and 47% use Twitter.  There are looking you where you spend time.  This is a big deal!

Referrals are your most effective source of quality hires! - This is huge, and there is no easy way to say it, you need to have all of your professional contacts “looking” out for you when you are looking.  Recruiters regularly utilize social networks, internships, and outside recruiters, but having a network of people watching out for you is an extremely effective way to put yourself in contention for a position.

Recruiters face obstacles trying to find the right candidate! – 56% of recruiters are hurting for skilled or qualified candidates.  This is a big deal as well.  Be mobile if possible, and search your regions with knowledge that if you can have flexibility, you may land a job, the job, more quickly.  Help the recruiter help you, be up front about your flexibility and terms.

There are many other points in the survey.  I want to make sure that aspiring candidates understand the importance of social media, referrals, and flexibility.  Jobvite’s survey was well done in its scope, and I am even more convinced that building and focusing on a professional network, as opposed to “lobbing” out resumes is your key to success in finding a suitable position.

What is Most Important to a Recruiter?

Recruiters have to focus on something when attempting to fill a position.  As would be the case,  some things that seem important may be more important than others.

Some items that you have previously thought of as important aren’t! – 63% of recruiters ranked cover letters as a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest ranking.  Additionally, 57% of recruiters rank GPA as a 1 or 2 on the scale in terms of its importance.

Remember to showcase the most important items – 87% of recruiters think your previous job experience is more important as it ranks either 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.  Ranking even higher, 88% think the culture fit is definitely important.  An area that many take for granted, references shows up as well, with 51% of the recruiters believing that they are important.

Social Media Pitfalls Still Abound

The Jobvite 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey also ratifies what so many of us know about social media and your job search.

There are goods and bad about having a social media presence.

Put yourself in the best “Light” – 76% say you should share details regarding volunteer, professional, or social engagement work.  52% suggest that you engage with current events tastefully, and importantly, 72% suggest that you double-check your spelling and grammar!

Avoid the Negatives – 54% suggest that the picture of you and that little red cup is a negative, and 75% suggest that you with marijuana is a negative.  I would suggest to you that that number might even be higher.  Interestingly enough, 33% think that a limited social media presence might be negative.

More to Come

I will touch on some more salient points of the Jobvite 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey, and will also be touching on the important points of the Diversity Jobs Index and Report as put together by the fine people at Professional Diversity Network.

Many thanks to Jobvite for sharing this enlightening report.  Please feel free to share any comments with me.  I can be reached at Michael.Parker@BlackSalesJournal.com.