How to Stand Out During the Hiring Process

Social media and social networking are an important tool for many people looking for jobs. Prospective employers, however, are often led to applicants’ personal social media profiles including information they might not want anyone besides their friends to see.

“It’s important that you present your best image,” Nicole O’Brien, CITY’s Human Resource Manager said. “Personal branding is a thing now and I think applicants need to be aware of what your personal branding is and how you are represented on social media.”

The decision on what to disclose online becomes even more important depending on what position you apply for. Upper management candidates often undergo heavy scrutiny during the hiring process to eliminate any social media mishaps or pitfalls. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process and about 43% of employers use social media to check on current employees.

“When you do a Google search of yourself, what pulls up, right?” Nicole said.

Nicole recommends the Google search technique because it can help applicants identify potential problems or even find people and profiles with the same name that employers might mistake for your own. She suggests adding a middle name on a resume or profile, especially if it’s a common name like Smith or Jones. Adding the city, you live in and the full name can help applicants stand out.

“You don’t want confusion preventing you from getting employed,” Nicole said. “The world is driven by social media and the internet. You do need to stand out a little bit and build that personal brand. Do more customizing and make sure what you want to represent is reflected on your social media profiles.”

CITY is currently hiring and to review our job opportunities, please visit our join our team webpage or contact our Human Resource department at 800.798.5621.