27th February 2015

Randstad has stressed the importance of technology professionals making the most of web platforms and ensuring their profiles are always up to date.

The specialist recruiter surveyed 2,000 British people and found that 80 per cent of tech workers tailor their CVs when they apply for a new job, but over half (55 per cent) do not update their LinkedIn page.

People who fail to make sure that their online presence is entirely accurate could be limiting their career prospects, according to Randstad.

Ruth Jacobs, managing director of the company’s technology division, said it is “worrying” that the majority of tech professionals are not paying sufficient attention to their online persona, seeing as this information is “more immediately available and accessible than ever before”.

“Social media has become an important communication platform, and more employers now check these channels to review potential candidates for suitability and to obtain more information – particularly through LinkedIn,” she continued.

“Candidates need to be aware that this is essentially an online CV.”

Offering some advice for job seekers, Ms Jacobs pointed out that it can often be better to include less information than to fill a profile with irrelevant, unnecessary details.

Other findings from the Randstad research showed that, while 65 per cent of tech workers don’t worry about future employers reviewing their social media accounts, a quarter of respondents were concerned about online blunders.

Nearly a third (32 per cent) of professionals said offensive or contentious posts would be a significant mistake, while 29 per cent were concerned about inappropriate pictures.

Ms Jacobs noted that the risks of having unsuitable content on social media profiles are well known, but stressed that having no online presence is not an option either.

“Especially now that online technology has become so intertwined with business, it is important for candidates to show employers that they keep up with these advances,” she advised.

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