September 16, 2009

Are Social Network Sites The Resumes of Tomorrow?

If you have recently become a member within the unemployment sector you might be realizing how different the job search has become. Mailing out resumes and filling out applications at the local supermarket is a thing of the past. Email, corporate online applications, job boards and the such have become the "classifieds of tomorrow". Resumes are being replaced by the social network sites.

Websites such as Linkedin, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have become the "resumes of tomorrow". On these sites individual profile pages are setup listing all of the pertinent information about the job seeker. These sites initially have been created for personal use to locate family, friends and classmates. However recently these profile pages have been offering enough information for employers and recruiters to make a judgment call about perspective hires.

The findings of a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com showed of those employers/recruiters who conducted online searches/background checks of job candidates:
  • 29% use Facebook, 26% use LinkedIn and 21% use MySpace.
  • 11% search blogs while 7% follow candidates on Twitter.
Job seekers are warned to be conservative with the information they post online. They need to remember that employers and recruiters may be able to view their pages. CareerBuilder's survey findings also suggest that employers have not considered potential job seekers who post inappropriate material. Some examples would be inappropriate photos, foul language, any reference to illegal substances and bad-mouthing former employers.

This should not discourage anyone from creating these public profiles since there is a brighter side to the survey. People were hired for their listings of achievements and awards, showing a well rounded education and good references.

I think the digital resume is in it's infancy. Though due to our present economy it seems to be a fast growing part of the social networking market. If all of this information is accessible on digital devices, computers or phones, why the need for the paper trail? It will certainly help with the efforts for a greener planet!