Online Recruitment, Tips from Carlton, Specialist Recruitment, Jobs Aberdeen

If you want a job then watch your bebohaviour

The rise of social network sites like MySpace, Bebo and Facebook means that itís easier than ever before to add and access information about yourself and others using the Internet.

Suzanne Cameron, Senior Commercial Consultant of Carlton Resource Solutions advises jobseekers and employers to tread carefully through the social networking quagmire: ìIf you are applying for a job consider the information that you have posted online and if you might want a potential employer eyeballing you. Likewise, employers should take information on websites with a pinch of salt as often itís someoneís alter ego and not the real person.î

According to an Internet Project survey by Pew, 44% of all adult users have added information to the Internet in some form. The TUC also warns that an increasing number of employers plan to review profiles on social networking sites like Facebook when considering candidates for jobs.

Therefore, before you apply for that next job itís worth reconsidering uploading pictures of you with a traffic cone on your head and a banana in your ear if you donít want potential employers to see them.

Some organisations now prevent employees from using or even having a profile on a social networking website. Kent County Council was recently reported as having banned 32,000 of its employees from accessing Facebook in a move to reduce ìtime-wastingî. Many local employers in Aberdeen are following suit.

Suzanne Cameron, Senior Commercial Consultant of Carlton continues, ìSocial networking sites are very popular and the best thing to do if you want to avoid unsavoury peeks is to make your profile private, delete it altogether or ensure the information you have will not disadvantage you in any way.

Whilst an employer might not say directly why you werenít the right person for the job, the fact is, the Internet is another free tool they can use to find out if you are the type of personality you say you are. If you are searching for a job then use social networking websites specifically designed for a more professional profile such as LinkedIn.î

Suzanne gives the following career advice to employers and job seekers when using social networking sites:

Advertise yourself for hire. If you are looking for a job then politely post your CV on your profile, if itís freelance work then state your areas of expertise. However, do not make your profile public, or slag off your current employer and make it obvious youíre looking for a new job. After all why do things online that you wouldnít do in the real world?

Research social networks related to your profession. Some industry-led websites may have a directory section where users can register their details and post a short CV. Examples include www.allmediascotland.com (for media professionals); www.oilcareers.com (for oil and gas workers); www.linkedin.com (multi-business network).

Network to your advantage. Use social networks to keep in touch professionally with people you were at school, college, university or worked with in the past.

Make your profile private. If you must use the Internet to vent your social spleen, with photographs and videos of outrageous nights out with friends, keep it to yourself. Many social networks have an option to make your profile private, which is a good idea if you want to keep your current job or apply for a new one.

For employers:

Use social networks to advertise vacancies. Donít look at social networking negatively, they offer more than an insight into your employeesí lives. You can use MySpace to build a profile for your company and even post a job advertisement when you are looking for new staff.

Treat staff with respect. Just as you may research a potential candidate, they may also research you. If an employee leaves your company on a sour note then they may start a blog against you or post comments that could put off a potential new employee.

Donít believe everything you read. If you come across unsavoury information about someone who has applied for a job, look at it in context. For instance, is the profile still active? Also, if they have all the skills you need, then an interview will allow you to find out what they are really like. Alternatively, use the services of a recruitment specialist who will have already pre-screened candidates.

Suzanne concludes, ìDonít allow your online persona to undermine your CV. Employers are entitled to do background research and looking on the Internet gives them extra information that a CV or reference might not. Just be careful what you put out there and employers should be equally as careful of the information they find.î

Established in Aberdeen in 1981, Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) has grown and developed to cover all geographic regions through its operational hubs in Aberdeen and London. Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines, in both public sector and other corporate environments. Carlton recruits for permanent, contract or temporary placements. For more information call 01224 650500 or visit www.carltonrs.com