Job seekers, your Facebook profile is just as important as your resume

2019 is bringing huge changes to the way employers hire, and right now more employers than ever are hiring on Facebook. The company is targeting small businesses (which do most of the hiring in this country) to find employees through their Facebook. This could be a good alternative to Indeed and Linkedin, which seem to be where a lot of large corporations hire.

Up until the start of 2018, employers who were using Facebook to recruit were a little bit rare. Before the move to Facebook jobs, it was just the curious hiring manager who would look you up on Facebook. Now the whole application, interview, and scheduling process can take place on the platform!

Now more than ever it is important to have a professional Facebook photo and the right privacy settings. Right now, I have a profile picture featuring my dog and me, and my face doesn’t take up much of the frame. Likely it has to go, and it should be replaced by a full face photo. My privacy settings are a little open but I do not let anyone tag me in a photo without my approval and I keep pictures of my family off Facebook.

A current location and relevant job title are also valuable, and should be up to date.  Employers may pass on a candidate who they think might have to relocate for work, or someone who has a job title like, Head of Cheers at Cheers! A semi-professional Facebook profile might not get you a job but it sure won’t hurt, unlike a sloppy one.

Kael Campbell is President and Lead Recruiter of Red Seal Recruiting Solutions, a company providing recruitment services in mining, equipment and plant maintenance, utilities, manufacturing, construction, and transportation. When he is not recruiting, Kael spends as much time as possible with family in the great outdoors and on the water. He volunteers his time as a Board Member of the Entrepreneurs Organization of Vancouver Island. You are invited to subscribe to our Job Seeker newsletter or submit your resume.