Young job applicants’ digital identity vs. company’s social media brand development strategies

What is it about?

It is common for SMEs to include their employee’s social media image and followers into their own brand development strategy. They thus consequently also make the social media image and followers of prospective employees part of their recruitment strategy. Most students however have not yet noticed this trend and are mostly focusing on goals set by their education programmes without focusing on the potential marketability of their own social media image. To address this gap, we conducted a literature review and interviewed representatives from recruiting companies. Our findings reveal that growth-oriented companies seek applicants with good individual brand image because they perceive it as an indication for future gains in this regard. Moreover, we also found that companies should support new applicants’ skills in their orientation process, especially related to social media branding because it will potentially help them align to the company’s brand vision.

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Photo by Slidebean on Unsplash

Photo by Slidebean on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Most students have not yet noticed the trend of their social media brands importance for job seeking. A literature review was conducted to reveal that growth-oriented companies seek applicants with good individual brand image. We also found that companies should support new applicants’ skills in their orientation process, especially related to social media branding because it will potentially help them align to the company’s brand vision.