After an interview, HR will find your social media page: evaluate it and make a decision. You've just left an interview, exhaled, praised yourself for confident answers, and are already mentally trying on your new position. But don't rush to relax. While you're drinking coffee and making plans for the future, the HR manager is opening your social media profile. Yes, exactly. 75% of employers in Russia, according to a Russian School of Management study, look at your accounts to understand who you really are. And this is where the real quest begins: what will they see there? And how will it affect their decision? Social media is your second resume. Social networks have long ceased to be just a place where you share vacation photos or cat memes. Today, it's a full-fledged part of your professional life, whether you want it or not. As Anna Saygina, an expert from the "Professions of the Future" center says, competent social media management can become your competitive advantage, while mistakes can be a stumbling block on the way to your dream job. Imagine that after the interview, HR finds an old post in your profile where you fiercely criticize your former employer, or a photo from a party where you're hugging a bottle of tequila. And just like that, the image of a "professional with a capital P" collapses like a house of cards. According to the survey, almost 80% of employers will reject a candidate because of what they saw on their social media. And these aren't just scary stories, but reality. For example, Pavel Noskov, general manager of the Pub Life Group restaurant chain, tells how he once rejected a candidate for a marketing position. The guy was good at the interview, but posts with aggressive rhetoric against women were found in his profile. "How will he work in a team where half of the employees are women?" the company wondered. And they refused to hire him. What exactly employers look at. What HR managers pay attention to when scrolling through your pages: Photos and videos. Yes, that very photo in a swimsuit captioned "heat in the Maldives" can work against you, especially if you're applying for a serious position in a company with a conservative culture. Or, for example, an avatar featuring your favorite cat instead of your face. "Well, this isn't serious," the employer will think. Comments and posts. Aggression, profanity, radical political views – these are all "red flags." Once, a company parted ways with an employee whose social media no one checked before hiring. It turned out he was frequently detained by the police for 15 days, which he talked about on his page. It's difficult to rely on such a person if they can drop out of work for two weeks at any moment. Employers look at how well you fit into their corporate culture. For example, Kristina Grayvoronskaya from the French Bakery SeDelice coffee shop chain says that when searching for a head barista, she studied candidates' social media. It was important that the person not only knew how to brew coffee but lived for it, posted recipes, shared impressions about coffee shops, showed passion for the profession. Assessment of your adequacy. If you participate in trash challenges or post videos where you get drunk to the point of unconsciousness, then, alas, your chances of working in a serious company are slim. Social media mistakes that can cost you a job. Let's be honest: we're all human, and everyone has something on social media that's better not to show an employer. But there are mistakes that particularly often lead to rejections. Here's a list of the most popular "sins": Strange avatars. Photos with weapons, cartoon characters, pictures of your dog – all this may be cute, but not for an employer. As one experienced hunter says, an avatar should be slightly less formal than a resume photo, but still professional. Too personal content. Photos in swimsuits, parties, gym shots showing off abs – all this is better left for a personal album, not a public profile. Negativity and aggression. Posts where you criticize your former employer, colleagues, or just pour out anger at the world – this is almost a guaranteed rejection. Radical views are a time bomb. Even if your beliefs don't contradict the law, they may not align with the employer's position. And then the choice will not be in your favor. Monotony. If your profile is filled only with posts about children, sports, or hobbies, it creates the impression that you don't think about work at all. It's important for an employer to see that you're a professional, not just a loving parent or marathon runner. How to turn social media into your advantage. But not everything is so gloomy. Social media can not only harm but also help. How? It's simple: make them your ally. Here are some tips that will help you look like a real pro in the eyes of an employer: Show your expertise. Share cases, talk about work achievements, publish expert opinions. For example, if you're a marketer, write a post about how you increased company sales by 20%. If you're a designer, show your projects. Employers are looking not just for employees, but for thinking professionals. Separate personal and professional. Choose one platform for business communication and make it your professional showcase. And accounts with personal content are better kept private from prying eyes. Conduct a "digital cleanup." Regularly check your old posts and delete anything that could be interpreted negatively. "What seemed like a harmless joke five years ago can cost you your dream job today," experts warn. And if there's no social media profile. It would seem the easiest way to avoid problems is to not have social media accounts at all. But there are nuances here too. According to experts, most employers don't consider a private profile or its absence as a negative factor. But there are exceptions. For example, if you work in a field related to publicity (PR, marketing, advertising), the absence of a profile will be perceived as a minus. If you still decide to give up social media, be ready to explain why. For example, say that you value privacy or prefer face-to-face communication. The main thing is not to look like you're hiding something. Conclusion. Social media is a powerful tool that can both help you in your career and harm it. It all depends on how you use it. You don't need to turn your profile into a boring showcase with perfect posts, because it looks unnatural and repels. But forgetting that you may be observed is also not worth it. Before you start actively job hunting, do a "digital cleanup" in your profile and turn social media into your ally. And who knows, maybe your next post will be the decisive argument that convinces an employer to tell you: "You're hired."
