What do companies know about me: the power of social media

On another item we talked about how nowadays people with whom we have less contact can attribute a personality to us, character or way of being based on the content we generate on social networks, although this has validity doubtful.

However, this assessment is not only found in people who follow us on Facebook or Instagram. The possibility of getting to know each other better through the data contained in social networks It has also reached large companies and their corresponding personnel selection departments.

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Social networks and selection processes in companies

Social networks are a tool widely used in selection processesas they provide free information about the person applying for the position. According to the data collected by the fifth edition of the 'Infoempleo-Adecco Social Networks and Labor Market Report', 86% of companies consult the social networks of shortlisted candidates before making a decision on hiring.

This report collects another piece of information, and that is that 47% of candidates with an account or accounts on social networks has been contacted by this means in relation to a job offer on at least one occasion. The professional social network par excellence is Linkedin, being the network best considered (67%) in the assessment positive of social networks as a channel for attracting and selecting talent, which amounts to 92%.

The location of the profile on the internet is used mainly in the recruitment phase before starting the selection processes, which implies that the information you present can be used as a discard filter or, on the contrary, of adaptation to a certain Market Stall.

Mainly Aspects related to the trajectory and curriculum vitae are sought. However, who knows if in the search for the recruiter to check your career he may find information about your profile that contradicts your CV, I hear negative comments about former colleagues, confirming membership in extremist groups, political affiliations, high interests risk; or in extreme cases, content that advocates violence, discrimination or promotion of alcohol and / or drug use. In short, content that can go against yourself if you are actively looking for a job and that everyone can find on the net.

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Use the Internet to our advantage

However, this presents an easy solution. Although we think that this information may go against us, we have the ability to generate content that contributes to achieving those goals that can be achieved by influencing the perception of others.

With a simple review of our name in Google, we can eliminate all that information that we do not want to be reflected to the public and, at the same time, select and develop the one that we want to be considered in any assessment made by people who take a look at our profile. let's remember Robert Cialdini's 6 Laws of Influence that can play in our favor. Since if we do things well sooner or later someone will look for our information on the networks, we can always transform what is shown in a cover letter.

Let's face it, social media is here to stay. The power that a person presents today when projecting a first impression, no longer lies solely in the first physical encounter, as was common a few decades ago. Today, the image we give is largely complemented on the walls of our networks and the consequences can be positive or negative.

It all depends on our becoming aware of the amount of information that today can be taken from us: companies, friends or strangers; and make the decision to review, update and enhance the content that is useful for the objectives we set ourselves.

Maybe it's time to write our name in Google and check what the results are, delete some photos of our past on Facebook or Instagram or create content on our LinkedIn profile. The question we must ask ourselves is, how can social networks help me to achieve some of my goals?