Should you include social media on your CV?

When recruiting for a job vacancy employers will likely look candidates up online to learn more about them before inviting them to an interview. Whilst it’s fine to include your LinkedIn profile on your CV there may be times when you want to include your other profiles such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or an online portfolio/blog. 

Including your social media profiles on your CV can have advantages and disadvantages, depending on the nature of your profiles and the job you are applying for.

It’s important to carefully consider whether or not to include your social media profiles on your CV and choose only those that are directly relevant and add value to your application.

When you should include your social media profiles on your CV

Showcase your professional brand

If your social media profiles (such as LinkedIn) are well-maintained and aligned with your professional goals, including them on your CV can help showcase your personal brand and demonstrate your industry expertise and interests. It can also show that you are a strong communicator with good networking skills. 

Build credibility

By sharing your social media profiles on your CV, you can demonstrate that you are active and engaged in your industry or field, which can help build credibility with potential employers. This is especially the case if the role involves social media content creation or managing social media campaigns. 

Highlight your additional skills and interests

Social media platforms can be an excellent way to showcase additional skills or interests that may not be directly related to the job you are applying for but could still be relevant. For example, if you have a blog, online portfolio or social media account dedicated to a specific hobby or interest, it can show that you have a broad range of skills and passions.

When you may wish to leave your social media profiles off your CV

Privacy concerns

Including social media profiles on your CV can raise concerns about privacy and personal boundaries. Employers may look at your social media profiles to learn more about you, but you may not feel comfortable sharing all aspects of your personal life with them.

Negative content

If your social media profiles contain any harmful or controversial content, such as controversial opinions, offensive language or discussions surrounding sensitive topics, it could reflect poorly on you as a candidate and hurt your chances of getting the job. 

Irrelevance

If your social media profiles are not directly relevant to the job you are applying for or do not demonstrate any particular skills or expertise, including them on your CV may not add any value and may even distract from the more important information on your CV.

In this case, whilst you may wish to include your LinkedIn profile, avoiding mentioning other social media platforms is best. 

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