It should be no surprise in 2022 that social media acts as a “character resume” for potential employers.
As many as 90% of workplaces look to predict an employee’s “fit” by checking social media accounts before moving forward with their interview process. The same goes for graduate schools and colleges.
There have been several studies done on how much the ability to interact with other people affects someone’s capability to thrive in a collaborative workplace. In many cases, "soft skills" greatly outweigh the person’s general qualifications and often serve as an easy tiebreaker among candidates.
Simon Sinek, citing his work with the U.S. Navy SEALS, says the SEALS prioritize trust over performance when choosing who to be on their elite teams.
“What they learned,” Sinek says, “is the person who is a high performer of low trust is a toxic leader and a toxic team member. They would rather have the medium performer of high trust or in some cases even a low performer of high trust (it’s a relative scale) over the high-performer-low-trust person. And the problem in business, we have a million and one metrics to measure someone’s performance, and negligible to no metrics to measure someone’s trustworthiness, which is bad for the long game because it eventually destroys the organization.”
Social media is one readily available metric to gauge someone’s personality and character, and thereby making an educated guess at their trustworthiness.
Salesforce states 86% of employees and executives site lack of communication or collaboration for workplace failures, so the question isn’t is this potential employee trustworthy, but can they communicate effectively and “get along well with others.”
Social media is the tip sheet for that, too.
So how do you use social media for the good of your future career, even if you're in high school or college?
There are things employers will look for, both good and not-so-good.
First, the good:
1. Post positive
Whether it’s a healthy balance of just looking happy or doing something healthy you love, post photos and activities that show you’re a person who people want to be around. Everyone loves being with someone who smiles quickly and laughs easily. Conversely, if all your posts are dark and cynical, you may give off the opposite vibe.
2. Be gregarious (or at least fake it)
If you’re an introvert or an extrovert, it really doesn’t matter – have some posts with you in a group or with other people. Let employers see you “getting along well with others,” as your teachers used to say. If you’re into sports, theatre, a band, or anything involving a literal or figurative team – that’s an easy sell to those wondering if you can thrive in similar settings.
3. Variety in locations
The employee who can adapt to new settings is one who is more likely to get along with more people. Therefore, if you travel, or even just enjoy visiting new restaurants, parks, stadiums, etc., show you are flexible with your surroundings. The more flexible you are, the greater ability you appear to have to adapt to change.
4. If you comment, compliment!
Everyone loves a compliment, and the internet isn’t always the best place to find them. If a potential employer is looking at your public activity they can see for themselves how you directly interact with those you know and those you don’t know. If you comment, compliment – not just for a potential employer to see, but at the least you might make someone’s day.
Now the “Don’t List”:
1. Don’t fall into the trap of forgetting there’s a human on the other side of the screen
Believe what you believe in, but always respect those who may think differently than you. We all have our soapboxes, but what separates a good future team member from someone to worry about is when our passion for our beliefs supersedes our ability to view other people as our fellow humans. Rockhurst teaches its students to have empathy and consider other perspectives. Avoid online arguments if you can help it (you can). Also avoid painting “the other side” with the same giant paint brush in a negative fashion. Hate speech is the reddest of red flags.
2. Don’t feed the trolls
It goes without saying to not be a troll on social media, but take it beyond that and avoid feeding them, too. If you spend your time arguing with strangers, how will you collaborate with co-workers in the physical or virtual office? Have you ever had your mind changed in the comments of a post or tweet? Exactly.
3. Complaining is another red flag
Remember those soapboxes? You can choose to promote your cause or you can choose to complain about the “other side.” Someone who constantly complains online means they’ll do so in person. Negativity is contagious and will spread in the workplace unless kept in check. A negative opinion of you as a potential employee increases significantly when you complain about past jobs, co-workers, or customers, too. Continue to post positive.
4. Avoid profanity and illicit content
We have the freedom of choice, but we don’t have the freedom of consequence. If employers are looking for a seamless fit for their team, they’ll pass on those whom they believe will pick at those seams with behavior that’s not generally acceptable in the majority of business settings. It’s easier to find someone equally as qualified who is a “better fit,” and that’s the priority of the employer. Your job before you get the job is to protect your reputation and “fit.”