It seems almost impossible these days to avoid social media, and indeed, many of us - particularly the Millennials who have grown up around smartphone and tablet communication - routinely use social networks for both personal and professional purposes.
However, while 73% of 18 to 34-year olds found their last job through social media, it's also true that 94% of recruiters either already use social networks for recruiting or plan to do so.
That makes it extremely important for those hunting for science jobs - in sectors ranging from biology and chemistry to pharmacology and immunology - to have a social media profile that says the right things about their professional self.
The big difference made by social media to your job search
It's been a long time since LinkedIn was the only social media platform used for professional purposes, with Facebook and Twitter by no means merely the homes of amusing cat pictures or frivolous celebrity tweets.
The truth is that, whatever social media platforms you are active on - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and/or various others - everything that you say on them contributes to your overall 'employee brand'.
That means even those rants about late-running trains or annoying relatives count - and they don't necessarily reflect well on you. Even worse, however, is when your professional life is the subject of those rants - with those tweeting about a bad day at work risking the loss of their job.
Focus on LinkedIn - but not exclusively
While it is important to pay attention to everything that you say across all of your social media accounts - just like the most eagle-eyed recruitment agencies will be doing when considering your candidacy - the most attractive LinkedIn profile is a particular must-have.
After all, from a professional point of view, LinkedIn remains the most important social network, with 48% of recruiters making it their sole focus for social outreach. Some employers have been completely ditched CVs in favour of LinkedIn recruiting.
So, remember to complete your LinkedIn profile as much as possible, ensure that you refer to the same job title across all of your social communications and always challenge the appropriateness of whatever content you post.
The stakes are high in today's social media world
Being professional may be easier on LinkedIn, but on less career-oriented social platforms, it is much easier to suffer those all too common lapses that may cost you the chance of your dream role - perhaps without you even knowing.
Do you want to ensure that you are in the best position possible to compete for the very best jobs in 2016?
If so, explore the different fields that we cover, read about our complete Candidate Commitment and get in touch with our experts here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions today.
