Social media should help, not hinder, your job hunt

The year ahead will see 70.2% of Mena web user connected to social media accounts, leaving behind them a trail of hashtags, pithy comments and the most flattering photographs available.

Using social media well is a useful way to complement the job application process, and often a necessary component of a job description, particularly within marketing and digital media.

Middle East job site Bayt.com's recent "Hiring Management in the MENA" poll shows that not only is the Internet the medium of choice for 50% of employers seeking potential hires, but 84% will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision.

Nowadays online recruiters even display members' CV's in the form of an online social media profile - akin to LinkedIn - allowing them to be searched by employers, clients and colleagues. AMEinfo spoke to Suhail Masri, Bayt's VP of Sales, about how jobseekers should employ social media effectively in the hunt for their coveted role.

"It is true that social media is now part of the employment process; however it cannot operate alone, and rather complements other online and traditional hiring methods," says Masri. "Having a quality, complete and regularly updated CV or public profile on a dedicated regional jobsite with deep inroads in the regional recruitment landscape is a must."

"Professionals should keep their private online presence and professional one separated and tailored for the specific end goals and objectives," he explains.

Is it worth using social media while job hunting?

The risks are obvious. While you go to every measure to appear like the perfect employee, you may be foiled by your peers uploading 'unprofessional' photographs or worse, find an over-zealous interviewer who has delved as far back as your Myspace profile.

"Many of today's HR executives look for every bit of information they can have on a potential candidate," warns Masri, "with social media channels being one of the resources."

"Thus, it is very important for all job seekers and professionals to keep in mind that their profiles are to remain private, clean and exempt of any negative or potentially damaging personal content that will definitely not work in their favour."

Masri says jobseekers need to utilise social media in a 'smart and conscious' way, complimenting focused activities on regional job sites.

"We advise them to use professional platforms that allow them to showcase their education, experience, qualifications and skills, rather than other personal information that is best kept private or shared with friends and relatives only," he explains. One such way is through Bayt.com's 'People' section, which allows users to update their CV publicly as part of their online profile.

"For a remarkable public profile, we recommend job seekers keep it refreshed, while targeting the sought position by mentioning the specific job title they are pursuing and using as many keywords as possible to increase their chances of being found by top employers in the region," says Masri.

"Asking previous bosses and peers for recommendations and endorsements is also highly advisable to make one's public profile much more attractive and differentiated to potential employers," he continues.

So whatever your social platform of choice, take time to check and double check that personal information is secure and private. Be wary that often everything published online appears instantly and, even when deleted, cannot be unseen. Take time to tweak some of your Twitter posts to a subject relevant to your desired job and, perhaps most importantly, if there is any doubt in your mind about whether your next Tweet, status update or photo upload will get in the way of your next job... just don't do it.

You can also read LinkedIn's top tips for building a better online profile here.