Social media can be a powerful tool to help you communicate with a diverse spectrum of people from all around the world. It can also be a tool to connect with people who can help you in your search for your dream VA job.
However, even as you use these platforms to make connections, recruiters and hiring managers are also using them to learn more about you.
Since social media platforms are public, they are fair game for anyone looking to do a little more research into potential employees. If a recruiter or hiring manager discovers warning signs in what they see on your social media, it can easily take you out of the running for that dream job.
With that in mind, here are 5 things recruiters don’t want to see on your social media (and 5 things they do).
5 red flags for recruiters on social media
When you are applying for a new job, take a few minutes to consider what you’re putting into the digital world and how it can be interpreted by a potential employer.
- Inappropriate content. Posts that are sexually explicit, excessively vulgar, or involve illegal activities suggest a lack of professionalism and poor judgment.
- Discriminatory comments. Posts that exhibit racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of discrimination establish that you would be a problem in a diverse workplace.
- Bad-mouthing previous employers or colleagues. Venting frustration about previous jobs or coworkers can indicate a lack of discretion.
- Excessive complaining. A pattern of negative posts may suggest a generally unhappy or discontented personality who could damage workplace morale.
- Poor communication skills. Spelling and grammar mistakes reflect poorly on a candidate’s attention to detail, especially in roles where communication is key.
Whether you’re about to hit “post” on a new comment or going through your history, stop and ask yourself: “What does this statement say about me to a complete stranger?” If there’s any doubt that what you want to say can be taken out of context or could paint you in a negative light, think twice.
Better yet, just hit “delete.”
5 green flags for recruiters on social media
Show your professionalism by consistently engaging respectfully and sharing relevant content thoughtfully across all platforms. Doing so demonstrates awareness of how your online presence reflects your professional persona.
- Positive personality. Posts that reflect a positive outlook, resilience, and motivation stand out against the usual negative atmosphere on social media.
- Community engagement. Participating in community or volunteer activities shows a willingness to engage, contribute, and take initiative.
- Continual learning and development. Completing online courses or attending workshops highlights your commitment to personal and professional growth.
- Creative problem solving. Posts that highlight solutions you’ve spearheaded at work or in personal projects can demonstrate leadership and your ability to think outside the box.
- Positive feedback. Recommendations from peers, clients, or supervisors shared on your social media can serve as powerful testimonials to your skills and work ethic.
In short, recruiters look for candidates who will bring a positive attitude to their teams. Showing that side of yourself on social media allows hiring managers to see how you would be a benefit, rather than a burden.
Take the initiative
Just as recruiters and hiring managers can look at your social media accounts, you can do the same to learn more about where you’re applying.
- Follow official pages to gauge the work environment, employee engagement, and how values are communicated.
- Explore the profiles of employees (including recruiters) for an inside look at the company’s career development opportunities and workplace morale.
- Interact with the company’s social media posts to gain a better understanding of their mission and engagement.
VA Careers maintains active communities on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter), where we share employee stories, news about hot jobs, application advice (like this very post), and information about what it means to work at VA. You can also stay on top of local events and job openings by following your regional VA health care systems or medical centers.
Join our networks and judge whether or not VA is the kind of place you want to work. We think you’ll like what you see.
Work at VA
Use the information above to polish up your social media accounts and give our recruiters one more reason to see you as a future VA employee.
- READ more job news and advice from our VA Careers team.
- WATCH “Talk About It Tuesday” each week at noon ET on LinkedIn.
- SEARCH for your opportunity to work at VA.
