A strong online reinforces your skills, showcases your personality, and signals to employers that you’re serious about your career. According to recent surveys, over 70% of hiring managers check candidates’ social media before making a hiring decision.
In short: if you’re job hunting, you’re being Googled. Whether you’re actively applying or just open to new opportunities, your online footprint can either be an asset or a liability. Talk to a professional at Quality Placement Authority about how updating your online profiles could help tip the scales in your favor.
Where Employers Look Online
Here are the top places hiring managers tend to check when researching job candidates:
- LinkedIn – This is the go-to platform for professional networking. A polished LinkedIn profile can work like a digital resume and portfolio rolled into one.
- Facebook and Instagram – Employers may glance at these platforms to get a sense of your personality and professionalism.
- X (formerly Twitter) – Public tweets can offer insight into your interests, communication style, and thought leadership.
- TikTok and YouTube – Especially if you’re in a creative field, your video content might be viewed as part of your personal brand.
- Google Search Results – Employers might simply search your name and see what comes up.
A complete and well-written LinkedIn profile should include a professional photo, a compelling headline, and a summary that shares who you are, what you’ve done, and where you want to go.
Beyond LinkedIn, consider the message your other public accounts send. While you don’t have to erase your personality, it’s wise to review and clean up anything that could be considered unprofessional or controversial. Removing outdated or questionable content can go a long way in maintaining a positive image.
It’s also helpful to Google yourself and see what shows up. If the top results aren’t accurate or impressive, you may want to create or update profiles that reflect your strengths. This could include building a personal website or online portfolio.
Optimizing Your Online Profiles and Showcasing Your Skills
If you’re in a creative or technical field, don’t rely on your resume alone. A digital portfolio that includes examples of your work, brief case studies, or project summaries can set you apart. Writers might share published articles or blogs, designers can feature visual samples, and developers can link to repositories or applications they’ve built. Having this information organized and easily accessible shows initiative and professionalism.
Your online presence is often your first impression. In a competitive job market, it’s not enough to simply apply. You need to be discoverable, impressive, and credible. By taking the time to polish your LinkedIn, clean up your social media, and showcase your best work online, you’ll put yourself in a strong position to get hired faster.
Where do you post online? With polished profiles and the support of a trusted staffing partner, you’re one step closer to getting hired. Have a conversation with the staffing professionals at Quality Placement Authority, a full-service staffing and recruiting firm with nationwide service capabilities. Connect with Quality Placement Authority today.
