If you are currently looking for a job in the Netherlands and your social media profile does not match your CV or your letter of motivation, it can affect your chances of securing a job. And by social media profiles, we are not only talking about LinkedIn or Xing, but also about Facebook and Instagram. Recruiters are increasingly looking at these social networks because they provide a better overview of who a candidate is in their everyday life and what type of personality they have. Here is some advice on how you can adjust your social media profile before embarking on a job search.
Adjust your privacy settings
Every social media application has privacy features. Take a close look at your privacy settings to see which content is public and which is limited only to your profile’s friends and followers. Closely review public content because this is what hiring managers or recruiters will be looking at before considering inviting you for an interview.
It is wise to leave public images that portray you as a friendly and social person, and to avoid pictures in which you may seem intoxicated or pictures that could be interpreted as offensive. If you have photos that could give viewers who don’t know you a negative perception of you, make them visible only to close friends.
Using a professional profile photo can be a game-changer, especially on LinkedIn. It gives the impression of a trustworthy serious professional in an instant. Next, take time to go through your profile to review the posts you uploaded or in which you were tagged. Not all of them are flattering. You can remove tags from content you do not wish to be tagged on or delete posts altogether. This is not limited only to visual content but also applies to expletives, poor spelling and grammar skills, or offensive and politically incorrect statements. It is perfectly fine to express your thoughts and ideas on various subjects, but calling for violence or publishing extreme views on sensitive topics will most likely disqualify you for certain job roles. Today’s work environment is highly diversified and open-mindedness toward other cultures is essential.
Join groups on LinkedIn and Facebook
Becoming a member of a relevant group can bring many benefits: from having access to jobs posted by group members to a reliable community that can help you solve problems. Do not restrict yourself only to groups that offer jobs in your close area, but join various expat groups and groups within your field of expertise. You can get valuable advice or connect with people who are in a similar situation to you. This can all end up being very helpful in your job search. You can easily find these groups on Facebook’s search bar. It’s important to check how many members each group has and see if it’s active or not. If a group has less than 100 members and is not active for months or even years, chances are you will not receive many interactions on your post.
Consider social networks as an area in which you can create your personal brand. By posting and sharing relevant news from your field of expertise, you will create a strong profile that demonstrates your qualities. If you have time and good writing skills you can even post your own content, tackling problems relevant to your branch. Moreover, follow your dream companies on LinkedIn, like their posts regularly and connect with fellow professionals and recruiters. Your resume may have limited space and focus mostly on your education and previous work experience. Use social media then instead, as an opportunity to show your interests and who you are as a person, which ultimately, is the most important thing.
Although social media is a space for your own sharing, following, and research, do not forget that everything you publish stays on the Internet. Your digital footprint is traceable and can be easily found by a simple Google search.
If you already have a great social media profile and you are looking for new opportunities, take a look at the vacancies on our website and feel free to apply.
