Take Caution: Social Media Profiles Replacing Resumes

It's time to take down those pictures...

Your social media profile may matter more than your resume to potential employers and recruiters. These days, they're looking at the LinkedIn and Twitter pages of prospective job candidates and reaching out to them directly -- some before ever even receiving an application. The change in hiring highlights the importance of keeping your social media footprint relevant, human resources and recruiting experts say. Heidi Golledge, CEO and co-founder of job site CareerBliss.com, says that despite high unemployment, a lack of specialized skill sets, especially in IT, social media and big data analytics, have prompted companies to turn to the Internet to find the right person. The rise is recruitment via social media is also beneficial to professional freelancers, as they tend to jump from one short-term contract to the next. Accoriding to Abby Euler, general manager of job site Salary.com, the appeal of social networks is that it gives a hiring manager a more holistic picture of a person’s professional background than a traditional resume can convey. (Today)

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