These days, most people have some type of digital footprint, often with little thought given to the fact that this could be helping, or just as easily hurting, their chance of landing that prized job interview.

The goal of this article is to share how some human resources professionals look at prospective employees through the lens of their digital footprint online, specifically searching through the applicant's social media profiles.

When it comes to recruiting and hiring, a LinkedIn profile has become a common component of the candidate evaluation process. HR professionals look to see if the candidate has any connections within the company, along with potential referrals as well. As a recruitment tool, it can also assist hiring managers in identifying and recruiting candidates through search and messaging features, as well as bring awareness for hard-to-fill positions in the companies. Knowing this, below are several tips to maximizing the effectiveness of this tool.

• Consistency: When screening candidates, HR professionals may look to see if a candidate’s LinkedIn profile matches the information on their resume submitted, and then if that information matches their interview answers. If there are any inconsistencies between a candidate’s resume and LinkedIn profile, most HR professionals are likely to confront the situation and provide the candidate the opportunity to explain themselves.
• Best Practices: Several areas to consider when creating a LinkedIn profile include:
  • having a professional headshot;
  • including as much detail as possible about job responsibilities and accomplishments in previous positions;
  • attaching a PDF resume;
  • using keywords to match desired career positions; and
  • keeping an updated network of connections.
• Unacceptable Content: If a profile includes offensive, controversial, or generally inappropriate material, it can eliminate the candidate from consideration for the position.

Ultimately, LinkedIn has the power to help or hurt in the hiring process. As noted by Uncle Ben in Marvel Comic’s Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility,” which is an apt reminder that people with power should use it responsibly and ethically. Viewing LinkedIn as a tool that can be leveraged to pursue career goals, employment aspirations, and brand promotion should yield more favorable results as a professional in the workforce.