If you've just embarked on a job search, you might be questioning the significance of your social media profiles in securing your desired job position. Presently, the majority of job applications are made online, and interviews predominantly occur via phone or video calls. Surprisingly, employers frequently conduct online evaluations of applicants before deciding on interviews.
The most recent studies emphasize the substantial influence that your LinkedIn profile holds in determining your success in job hunting.
Below, you'll find the four key statistics gathered from various sources:
1: 95% of Recruiters Utilize LinkedIn to Discover and Assess Job Applicants
LinkedIn stands as the world's largest professional social network, boasting over 640 million users, and its popularity continues to rise. While most users engage in networking or sales activities, recruiters, executives, and hiring managers leverage the platform to efficiently sift through job candidates.
Given that numerous job postings receive hundreds of applications, employers turn to LinkedIn to swiftly evaluate applicant profiles, eliminating those who are under-qualified or do not fit their requirements.
A current and professional LinkedIn headshot is crucial, as the absence of one might deter these potential employers.
Source: US News
2: 67% of Businesses Review Social-Media Profiles Before Confirming Job Offers
Beyond securing initial job interviews, your LinkedIn profile plays a pivotal role in securing a final job offer.
Hiring managers, together with their HR departments, tend to conduct one last check on your online presence before making the ultimate decision.
Their focus primarily revolves around identifying any 'red flags' in your social media, such as controversial statements or inappropriate content. Given the consideration of multiple candidates, why risk your profile not being at its best?
Note: Besides LinkedIn, companies also scrutinize publicly available platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Source: PR Newswire
3: Employers Form 'First Impressions' in 1/10th of a Second:
The most alarming finding: Hiring managers form an initial 'first impression' from your online profiles in a mere fraction of a second.
Humans, being visually inclined with limited attention spans, tend to assess products, services, and even individuals based on appearance alone.
Consider your LinkedIn profile image: It receives ten times more views than the textual content in your job history.
Remember, there's no opportunity for a second chance to create a stellar first impression.
Source: Healthline
4: Professional Headshots Boost Perceived Competence by 76%
The impact of professional headshots on the perception of competence by hiring managers is substantial.
In a four-month study we sponsored in 2019, 400 randomly chosen participants were asked to assess the 'competence, likability, and influence' of three individuals, solely based on their headshot and job title—similar to the information available to employers on LinkedIn.
Each participant submitted both a low-quality photo and a professional headshot for comparison.
For any further inquiries, feel free to reach us at events@vrtlpro.com
