While the nation is addicted to social media, the nation’s employees are not as quick to use it to sell themselves to future employers, according to new research released to mark the Finale of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge.
The data finds that over 27 million Brits use social media on a daily basis, but only a quarter (26%) sell themselves through social media to improve their careers and only 19 percent use it for their own career advancement.
The country’s job hunters could be missing out by not including vital information on social media profiles, as 65 percent of those responsible for hiring staff use social media and a further 12 percent say a good social media presence impresses them.
Only 19 percent have included fundraising activities, 17 percent volunteering, 13 percent coaching and mentoring and 12 percent team building exercises and leadership roles on their social media profiles.
75 percent of jobseekers say they are looking to take on extra training or courses to enhance their CV, but experts have called on employees to do more to celebrate the skills they already have.
Godfrey Owen, chief executive of young people’s development charity Brathay Trust says:
“With employers increasingly using social media to recruit, it is a great medium for people looking for promotion or a new job to enhance their career. But social self-selling isn’t just about talking about qualifications and experience, it is also vital to include soft skills such as volunteering, leadership, coaching or mentoring on CVs and on social media profiles.
“These soft skills are what the finalists in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge – some of the country’s leading employers – all agree are vital to a successful career.”
Paul Sippitt from previous finalists in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge QinetiQ, says:
“When it comes to selecting new apprentices, we look for the skills that will make people stand out now and in the future. Candidates that can show proof of soft skills and who make personal development and training a priority always stand out in the recruitment process.
“As previous finalists, we know that the Brathay Apprentice Challenge provides apprentices with the opportunity to develop these soft skills that can help enhance their future careers.”
Amie Filcher is an editorial assistant at HRreview.
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