New research of college students and recent graduates entering the job market from WINGFINDER, the free personal strength assessment tool developed by Red Bull, indicates a shift in perspective toward social media and its impact on the hiring process.
According to the survey of more than 1,000 20-25-year-old recent and soon-to-be college graduates, a majority of young job seekers are not afraid that their social media presence will negatively impact their chances of securing a job—in fact, some believe it just might benefit them.
Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents said they would never try to hide their social media accounts from potential employers. In addition, 86 percent stated they would not use a fake social media account to fool employers. These respondents assume their online activities can be easily reviewed and are aware that anything they share online should be appropriate for potential employers to uncover.
Entrepreneurial graduates are confident that they can even turn party pictures into profit by promoting clubs, festivals, clothing, spirits and beverages. A new career asset, “having a large following on social media,” didn’t exist a decade ago. In 2017, 12 percent of respondents named this as a skill when asked what they had to offer employers.
According to Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a professor of business psychology at University College London and Columbia University, and whose work serves as the basis for the WINGFINDER assessment, this transparency is a boon for potential employers.
“Social media provides a wealth of information for hiring managers. Specific strengths, personality traits and intelligence can all be gleaned from our online data trails,” he said, in a news release. “If job seekers are openly sharing their social media profiles, they need to be cognizant of the message they are conveying to employers. Identifying one’s own strengths and weaknesses can help build self-awareness and ensure users are showcasing their top skills.”
The online survey of soon-to-graduate and recent college graduates in the United States and United Kingdom took place between May 10 and May 20, 2017. The sample included 1,010 qualified U.S. and 307 qualified U.K. respondents. The survey was conducted by The Olinger Group for Red Bull WINGFINDER.
