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How Social Media Can Help and Harm Your Job Search

By U.S. News & World Report

Without the right social media presence, you’re going to have difficulty landing job interviews. A recent survey from CareerBuilder reports that screening candidates based on social media is at an all-time high: 70 percent, up from 11 percent in 2006.

So where are employers looking and what exactly are they looking for? First, you should know that a third of companies say they have someone on staff whose job it is to research candidates online, the survey finds. This means employers see value in social recruiting. But even if they don’t have dedicated staff, recruiters and hiring managers are still turning to social media to check out candidates. They are also increasingly using one of the major search engines, such as Google, Bing or Yahoo, to search candidates by name to see what turns up.

[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]

What Are Employers Looking For?

When searching social networking sites, the employers surveyed reported four main things they are vigilant for:

— Information that supports a candidate’s qualifications.

— The professionalism of a candidate’s online persona.

— What other people are posting about candidates.

— A reason not to hire a candidate.

Can Employers Find This Information?

It may be easier than you think. More than 50 percent of employers reported finding information on social media profiles that resulted in not hiring a candidate. However, there’s some good news. Forty-four percent of employers stated they found information online that led them to hire candidates.

What Factors Lead to Rejection?

Here are the top 11 things employers said caused them to reject candidates, according to CareerBuilder:

— Provocative or inappropriate posts or information.

— Drinking or using drugs.

— Discriminatory comments related to race, gender or religion.

— Bad-mouthing their previous company or fellow employee.

— Lying about qualifications.

— Poor communication skills.

— Links to criminal behavior.

— Sharing confidential information from previous employers.

— Unprofessional screen name or handle.

— Lied about an absence.

— Posted too frequently.

Professionalism 101

Here’s what’s going on. Employers want to hire someone who has strong decision-making abilities, and good judgment and ethics. Would you want to work with someone who said unkind things about you, lied or re-shared information you told them in confidence? Look at the list above and think about how you would react if any of your co-workers ever behaved this way on the job. This is why employers have begun using social media as a recruiting tool. The things people post online shed light on their judgment and professionalism.

If this angers you to the point of wanting to delete your social media accounts, think twice. Without a social media presence, 57 percent of employers say they won’t even consider candidates.

You Aren’t Safe Once You Have a Job

If you think you can let your guard down once you’re employed, that’s not necessarily the case. CareerBuilder reports that half of the employers surveyed monitor the social media activities of current employees. This resulted in disciplinary action, either terminating or reprimanding an employee.

[See: 10 Things to Do Immediately After Being Fired.]

Be Socially Savvy

The best strategy is to be vigilant about what you post online and to monitor when others are tagging you in their posts.

Keep It G-Rated

Even though social norms have been shifting, it doesn’t mean everyone has embraced these changes. You don’t know how certain people feel about profanity, politics, drug use (even if legal in some states), religion and guns. Before you post or re-share anything on social media, ask yourself how your grandmother would react if she read the post.

[See: 10 Ways to Perfect Your Personal Brand.]

Keep in Mind Who Can See What You Post

Besides the content you share online, also think about who can see it or share it. If you are connected to co-workers on social media, you don’t want to put them in an uncomfortable position by sharing information that is too personal or deceitful, such as photos of you living it up while you’re supposedly out of the office sick.

Post Work-Related Stuff

Instead of only sharing photos from your weekend adventures, include some work week shots, too. If you attended training, finished a big project or participated in a company sponsored event, mention it on social media.

As long as you are purposeful and aware of what you are sharing online, you shouldn’t have to worry about your candidacy for jobs or keeping a job you enjoy.

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How Social Media Can Help and Harm Your Job Search originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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