Getting Your Dream Job Could Be Affected By Your Social Media Opinions

You may have a resume replete with stints at top companies and education at the most illustrious universities, but it could all be in vain if you're strongly opinionated on social media; that is what research suggests. They found that job recruiters are less likely to select candidates who appear to be too self-involved or opinionated in their social media posts as well as are less likely to hire employees who post content suggestive of drug or alcohol use.

Pennsylvania State University's study researchers Michael Tews said, "In 2018, 70% of employers reported looking at social media sites to help them evaluate potential employees, and almost 60% eliminated candidates on the basis of negative content.

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From the study, researchers found that self-absorption negatively impacted recruiters' perceptions of the candidates' employment suitability and that self-absorption was more important than opinionated-ness or drug and alcohol use in driving these negative perceptions. They also found that opinionated-ness negatively affected perceptions of employment suitability.

"Social networking sites are often lamented as incubators of self-absorption, motivating people to tell others about their every deed and thought. People who post divisive subject matter may be viewed as more argumentative and less cooperative. Additionally, their views could run counter to those of hiring managers, which may influence managers' beliefs in candidates' qualifications for jobs. It's important for job candidates to be aware of how they portray themselves in social media," added Tews.

With inputs from IANS

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