For FILM 260 at Queen's University

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Job Searching in the Era of Social Media
Social media has been very helpful in simplifying the job hunt, however
it comes with quite a few drawbacks.
F I L M 2 6 0
Jesse Greenhouse
Photo: Fabian Irsara

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An explanation of the problem at hand.
Part One
The benefits of social media within the job search.
Part Two
Real stories from individuals who didn’t go through their social
media prior to applying for new jobs.
Part Three
Plans for the future.
Part Four
TIMELINE
Photo: Verne Ho

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PART ONE
THE PROBLEM
Photo: Ondrej Supitar

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5 2 % o f e m p l o y e r s
r e s e a r c h t h e i r
n e w a p p l i c a n t s
o n s o c i a l m e d i a
THE TRUTH
Photo: Crew
The Hiring Site
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60% SAY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION
THAT SUPPORTS THE EMPLOYEES
QULAIFICATIONS FOR THE NEW POSITION
Employers often find new information on their potential candidates that they were unaware of prior to digging.
Sometimes it really helps the candidates chances, however often it can hurt them.
WHAT ARE THEY SEEKING?
21% ADMIT TO SEEKING OUT REASONS
TO NOT HIRE THE CANDIDATE
Photo: Redd Angelo Photo: Tim Gouw
-Cleveland.com
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W H A T A R E E M P L O Y E R S F I N D I N G ?
46%Inappropriate Pictures /29%Discriminatory Comments /42%Job Qualifications /38%Professionalism
Photo: Bench Accounting
T H E B A D T H E G O O D
The Hiring Site
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RECRUITING
TIPS?
Being active on LinkedIn is SUPER
important when looking for a job!
“LinkedIn is the No. 1 source of recruiting.
93% of recruiters are tapping into that
network.” –Globe and Mail
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PART TWO
THE BENEFITS
Photo: Dai KE

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HAVING AN
ONLINE PROFILE
INCREASES YOUR
CHANCES OF
GETTING HIRED. Photo: Joshua Earle

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More than a third of
employers say they are
less likely to interview job
candidates if they are
unable to find information
about them online.”
— CareerBuilder
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S O C I A L M E D I A L E T S
Y O U P I C K W H A T Y O U R
E M P L O Y E R S A R E
S E E I N G
C H A N G E T H E P E R S P E C T I V E
Photo: Maarten van den Heuvel

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IT’S A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
When you are applying for a job it is almost as if you are running a political campaign for yourself. You
want to create an image of your “best self” on your social media pages. The most important thing to realize
is that you can’t just make changes when you’re applying for a job, it has to start at the very beginning.
Harvard Business suggests these three steps to be successful when “election time” rolls around.
The Internet can act as a third party to clarify if you are who
you say you are on your resume. It also is an opportunity for
you to set yourself apart from any of your competition.
Your Reputation Precedes You
When applying for a job you need more than a good resume
and cover letter. A strong social media presence shows that
you can back up what you said on your resume. It shows
results.
If You’re Invisible, You’re Probably a Fraud
To be truly successful with social media you need to build
your profile from the ground up. Start blogging and
tweeting about important events relative to your field, and
get rid of any posts that can bring you down.
You Progress or You Stagnate
Photo: Breather
-Harvard Business
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PART THREE
REAL STORIES
Photo: Vladimir Kudinov

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REAL
POSTS
FROM
REAL
FOLKS
Here’s a few of the many people
who posted on their social media
without thinking first, and because
of it got FIRED.
Going to Africa. Hope I
don’t get AIDS! Just
kidding. I’m white!
Justine Sacco
Twitter
‘‘
’’
Does anyone know
where I can find a
very discrete hitman?
Gloria Gadsden
Facebook
‘‘
’’
FILTHY MUSLIM.
EX-TSA Employee
Facebook
‘‘
’’
If you want to conquer
an African nation, send
white women and pot.
Eric Deters
Video Blog
‘‘ ’’
Each of these employees were fired
due to their inappropriate postings.
-Complex
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KIDS JUST DON’T GET IT.
THEY DON’T BELIEVE THEY ARE BEING WATCHED
In the New York Times article, They Loved Your
G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets, Natasha Singer
talks about the mistakes kids are making on a daily
basis. A college in Brunswick Memphis reported that a
prospective student was posting negative tweets
during a presentation about the school. She was
posting things about the other students there learning
more about the college. Let’s just say that she wasn’t
offered admissions after the admissions office saw her
tweets.
STUDENTS AREN’T INFORMED
When kids are applying to schools in the fall of their
senior year they are not thinking that these schools are
actually checking on their social media posts. According
to a survey with 381 college admissions officers, 31%
said that they check up on applicants social media.
Students need to realize that what they post on their
social media can have a lasting effect on their futures.
It’s a good idea to read through what one writes prior to
posting it on social media.
Photo: Elijah Henderson
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Gilbert Gottfried, the FORMER voice of
the Alfac duck was fired after making
jokes about the Japanese tsunami. He
was quoted saying “Japan is really
advanced. They don’t go to the beach.
The beach comes to them.” Aflac is the
biggest insurance company in Japan.
Gilbert was fired immediately.
SHOULD’VE KEPT
HIS BILL SHUT.
Photo: Scorr Van Daalen -Business Insider
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PART FOUR
THE FUTURE?
Photo: Yolanda Sun

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THE FUTURE.
“Twitter is becoming the new job board. It is
also becoming the new resume.”
Twitter is Revolutionizing Recruiting.
A company in Boston, Enterasys, used Twitter as
their only means for recruiting. They wanted to make
sure that those applying were serious Twitter users so
they only accepted applications from those who had
1000+ followers.
Could this be the end of the resume and
cover letter?
Photo: Freestocks.org -ProQuest
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Social media opens up so many new opportunities when it comes to jobs, and connecting with those
all around the world. Canoe.com said, “Social media gives us a power unmatched in history to bring
important causes to the attention of millions.” Sometimes even a stupid Facebook post created by
someone who didn’t think about the implications of their words. Clicktivism can help promote a good
cause instead of a negative one. It promotes positivity.
CLICKTIVISM.Clicking like on something because you “care”
about it.
Photo: Chaz McGregor
10/11

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We suggest that they Google
their own names so that they
know what is out there on
them," she said. "We want
them to understand that
people will be looking at
pictures, their backgrounds
and their postings.”
— Grace Kilbane 2

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EL FIN
Social media has done wonders in simplifying ones hunt for a job, but one must
remember that companies are seeing everything on social media not just the
stuff you want them to. In conclusion, pay attention to what you are posting
because I can guarantee you that your future employers are.
CONCLUSION

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CITATIONS
1. More Employers Checking Out Candidates on Social Media -. (2015). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2015/05/14/employers-checking-candidates-social-media/
2. Dealer, O. P. (2015). More than half of employers now use social media to screen job candidates, poll says; even send friend
requests. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/05/more_than_half_of_employers_no_1.html
3. Five ways to be a smart social media user in your job hunt. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/five-ways-to-be-a-smart-social-media-user-in-your-
job-hunt/article7195188/
4. It's Not a Job Search, It's a Permanent Campaign. (2012). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from https://hbr.org/2012/03/its-not-a-job-
search-its-a-p/
5. Ronson, J. (2015). How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html?_r=1
6. Bracetti, A. (n.d.). 25 Facebook Posts That Have Gotten People Fired. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/05/25-facebook-posts-that-have-gotten-people-fired/
7. Love, D. (2011). 13 People Who Got Fired For Tweeting. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-
fired-2011-5?op=1
8. Singer, N. (2013). They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/business/they-loved-your-gpa-then-they-saw-your-tweets.html
9. Silverman, R., & Weber, L. (2013, April). The New Résumé: It's 140 Characters; Some Recruiters, Job Seekers Turn to Twitter, but
Format Is a Challenge; Six-Second Video Goes Viral. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1324718460?accountid=6180
10. A click is not enough to have impact on world. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from
http://cnews.canoe.com/CNEWS/World/2015/04/10/22337541.html
11. Stern, C. M. (n.d.). In Praise of Clicktivism. Retrieved June 02, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caryl-m-stern/in-praise-
of-clicktivism_b_6978314.htm
12. All photos are from www.UnSplash.com , the individual photographers are credited on each photo.