JobOnlineAccording to the latest survey by Career Builders, 1 in 5 employees are determined to land a new job in 2016.

At the same time PEW Research released their survey entitled, Searching for Work in the Digital Era.

A majority of U.S. adults (54%) have gone online to look for job information, 45% have applied for a job online, and job-seeking Americans are just as likely to have turned to the internet during their most recent employment search as to their personal or professional networks.

The Internet can be your best friend while searching for you next employment or career move.

Roughly one-third of Americans have looked for a new job in the last two years, and 79% of these job seekers utilized online resources in their most recent search for employment. That is higher than the proportion who made use of close personal connections (66%) or professional contacts (63%) and more than twice the proportion who utilized employment agencies, print advertisements, or jobs fairs and other events.

Taken together, 80% of recent job seekers made use of professional contacts, close friends or family, and/or more distant personal connections in their most recent search for employment – nearly identical to the 79% who utilized resources and information they found online.

Now that we have determined the importance of the Internet, it’s imperative you understand the importance of  your digital resume and the use of social media.

According to PEW, social media is an asset when used effectively.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans now use social media platforms of some kind, and a substantial number of social media users are utilizing these platforms to look for work – and also to pass along employment tips to their own friend networks. Some 35% of social media users have utilized social media to look for or research jobs, while 21% have applied for a job they first found out about through social media, and 34% have used social media to inform their friends about available jobs at their own place of employment. In addition, 13% of social media users say information that they have posted on social media has helped them get a job.

Going back to a Career Builders survey from this past spring of 2015, you will find that your lack of digital engagement is a hurdle you don’t want to find yourself in for two reasons:

There are adults that have refused to engage in social media, whether it’s setting up their LinkedIn profile or having a Facebook account — for various reasons. If you find yourself suddenly out of a job in your mid-40’s or 50’s and realize you don’t have a digital trail, you need to get typing. You might be out of a job longer than you can afford to be.

1 -35% of employers are less likely to interview  you if they can’t find you online according to a Career Builders survey. Why?

  • What are you hiding?
  • Maybe you don’t have any or lack digital skills.
  • Maybe you lack social media skills. Even if the job doesn’t call for it, some employers like to have people that are in touch with trends in technology.
  • Do you have an alias?

2- 52% of employers are using social media to screen their potential candidates. That is a significant increase from years prior according to the recent survey. Don’t risk     your digital resume not being part of today’s landscape.

Let’s keep in mind, content can help – and some content hurts.  Your social media behavior matters.

According to the survey, these were the following top five pieces of content that turned employers off:

  • 46% – Provocative or inappropriate photographs
  • 40% – Information about candidate drinking or using drugs
  • 34% – Candidate bad-mouthed previous company or fellow employee
  • 30% – Poor communication skills
  • 29% – Discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc.

No matter how old you are, you need to be conscience of your online behavior.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression – today more than ever, your first impression is likely your digital one. Your keystrokes count.