Nearly 35% of recruiters may not call a candidate for an interview if she is not present online. Further, 84% of organizations use social media for their “Help Wanted” listings. There is no denying that an online presence is essential for job seekers. Experts predict that in a few years, online profiles may even replace resumes.
A robust online presence makes background checks hassle-free, offering maximum convenience to the hiring companies. With remote working on the plate, background checks will gain more importance, especially for temporary or contract workers. As the gig workers work with several organizations in their lifetime, keeping track of their background may not be possible otherwise.
Companies give a lot of importance to the online presence of job seekers. Here is why
It improves candidate research
From being a mere option, researching candidates online has become a trend for employers these days. The hiring managers try to find information about the candidates’ backgrounds from their digital profiles, be it social media or anywhere else. It helps them make better decisions and also increases the speed of hiring. In IT organizations, about 76% of recruiting professionals refer to social media for hiring new employees. More than 40% of them also reject candidates based on objectionable content on their social media profiles. Hence, job seekers need to have an online presence, and a professional one that too.
It reveals vital information
While resumes can tell about a person’s qualifications, skills, and experience, online profiles reveal more than that. They give out vital information about the candidate’s personality, preferences, and background. Such information is of significance to the employers, who may determine if a candidate is the perfect cultural fit for the company. By researching the candidate online, employers may know what their goals and ambitions are. If those match with the mission and vision of the company, quality hiring gets ensured. As bad hires can be disastrous and expensive for the company, online background checks are a necessity.
It helps with references and recommendations
People may be hired through internal references and recommendations to pace up hiring. While applications still hold a significant place in recruitment processes, other channels are gaining importance in the digital world. If a job seeker is a part of an extensive network, it gets easier to recommend them for a position. Potential employers only have to tap into their online profiles and get an idea about their employability. They may also gain valuable information about past projects, personal interests, hobbies, and aims. If the candidate needs to showcase their previous works, linking those to their online profiles may serve the purpose. All such details provide a holistic idea about the candidate and help improve the hiring process.
It makes the candidate search easy
When the potential employees are active online, it gets easier for the employer to find them. The time taken to go through hundreds of applications can be cut down significantly. Even if a resume gets unnoticed among several others, the online profile will make up for it. For the job seekers, it is a good idea to get on the radar of the company by collaborating, sharing their updates, and making themselves visible.
It tells a story
Intense storytelling abilities can give job seekers an edge over their competitors. Many things cannot be expressed on resumes, but the online profiles can compensate for it. Like the employers, the employees also have stories that depict their journey. It tells a lot about their credibility, employability, and ability to overcome challenges. Using a compelling story to showcase their skills and experience to the hiring managers can help job seekers stand apart. Both companies and job seekers now create video profiles on social media or websites like kaam. And the online profiles are the best platforms to narrate that story. It makes the profile noticeable to the recruitment team.
How job seekers can improve their online presence
Only being on social media and publishing regular updates won’t give you an edge in your job-seeking endeavors. You can up the same by following the suggestions below:
- Create a portfolio – Share projects, works you have completed, and things you have learned online. It will increase your visibility in the professional network.
- Craft a digital resume – It is easier to showcase your achievements and explain your skills through viable evidence on a digital resume.
- Collaborate on job platforms – By doing that, you may get on the radar of potential employers faster. They are already present there, looking for the fittest professionals.
- Remove unnecessary items – Keep your online profile clutter-free to create the best impression. Remove extra items that may show you in a bad light. You have several other platforms to express deep thoughts and emotions.
- Google yourself occasionally – Run a check on Google once in a while to analyze your online presence. The employers may do that before calling you for an interview.
So, are you ready to take on the digital space and create a robust online identity as a job-seeker? It will help increase your employability by leaps and bounds in the new normal.