The Harris Poll conducted a survey in which they found about 70% of employers screen social media as part of the hiring process, and 88% of employers would fire an employee for social media misconduct.
Social media seems to evolve on a daily basis. In some ways, it might feel like it has that in common with the job market. Even so, it remains a powerful tool in your next ag job search. Here’s how you can leverage it.
Build a Hireable Image
Hopefully, by now, you have created a LinkedIn profile and are keeping it professional and updated with career-related content. If you haven’t, check out How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Your Ag Job Search. But what about other social platforms? Although many, like Instagram or Facebook, are better known for personal use, hiring managers and recruiters are likely to check out your profiles there, too.
There are a few ways to make sure your personal pages are still presenting professionally. First, audit your content. If there’s anything on your pages you think would hinder your ag job search, it may be time to take it down. In addition, take advantage of privacy settings. Some personal posts may be too much information when looking for a job, so limit who can see them. Finally, do the simple things, like choose an appropriate profile picture and update your bio.
What to Avoid
Social media is often the place people go to air dirty laundry, but that’s the last thing an ag hiring manager or recruiter wants to see. Avoid sharing or posting anything inappropriate, distasteful or controversial. In this case, it’s also important not to air grievances about past employers or anything that’s confidential to your current employer. Finally, be cautious about oversharing personal information or expressing strong opinions, particularly political ones.
Be Active and Engage
At this point, you may be thinking, “Wouldn’t it be easier to get rid of my social media?” Don’t! As part of The Harris Poll survey, they found 20% of employers will not call a candidate who has no social media presence. Having social media is a good thing, but you have to use it to your advantage.
Be consistent, and don’t be afraid to brag a little about yourself. Particularly on LinkedIn, you should be sharing all of your education and career accomplishments. Share relevant ag industry content, too.
Social media is also a great place for networking and researching potential agriculture employers. You can “like” and “follow” ag companies you’re interested in working for to keep up on what they’re doing and when they have job openings. You can also connect with employees and recruiters at those companies so your posts show up on their feed. While LinkedIn is known for its job board, Facebook is also a good place to join online “groups” of professionals in your ag career to look for job openings, get career advice, and grow your network.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the rules for a professional social media presence are pretty simple. Be active. Be respectful. Be strategic. In this digital age, don’t be afraid to get creative in utilizing social media to network, search for, and apply for jobs in the ag industry. Use these tips to bolster your agriculture career search and build an image you can be proud of. After all, what goes on the internet, stays on the internet!
For more job search tips, check out our Career Advice Blog.
Ready for your next opportunity in agriculture, food production, horticulture, or ag biotech? Start your search and apply for jobs easily at AgHires.com.
