Workers making changes to their social media before big interviews

AROUND a quarter of workers have amended their social media status to secure their current job, according to a new study.

The research has highlighted the impact people feel social media can have on job prospects.

In total, 12pc of those surveyed say they changed their profile picture, while 6pc took the time to delete a post in order to secure employment.

Two-in-three of those surveyed by Irish recruitment firm Matrix said they would be happy to miss out on a personal event such as a wedding or funeral to attend an interview for their perfect job.

Women were more willing than men to take a pay cut for a role with a high level of job satisfaction.

Almost two-thirds of women said they would be willing to do this, compared with roughly half of men.

Despite the changes potential employees were willing to make to their social media platforms in order to improve their job prospects, the survey of more than 800 workers found that just over one in 10 Irish people are currently in their “dream job”.

This could be due in part to the fact that very little time is being spent preparing for interviews and researching or preparing by candidates.

Fewer than one-in-three people surveyed spent at least one hour updating their CV.

And 22pc of those surveyed said they spent less than one hour researching before their interview.

“It’s possible that candidates who don’t spend much time researching a potential employer or industry take jobs that don’t offer them long-term job satisfaction,” Kieran McKeown, managing director of Matrix, said.