More than two in five (43 percent) hiring managers who currently research candidates via social media said they have found information that has caused them not to hire a candidate, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey.
This is up 9 percentage points from last year!
There was also a slight rise in the number of companies researching job applicants on social networking sites—39 percent, up from 37 percent last year.
Top 3 Ways Social Media Hurts Job Applicants
Employers that dismissed a candidate after researching social media sites offered insight into which content was responsible for the decision. The top three mentions included*:
- Candidate posted provocative/inappropriate photos/info—50 percent.
- There was info about candidate drinking or using drugs—48 percent.
- Candidate bad-mouthed previous employer—33 percent.
How Social Media Helps Job Applicants
On the other hand, some employers said that they came across information during their search that made a candidate more attractive. The top three favorable qualities were*:
- Candidate conveyed a professional image—57 percent.
- Got a good feel for candidate’s personality—50 percent.
- Candidate was well-rounded, showed a wide range of interests—50 percent.
* Survey respondents were allowed to select more than one option. For the full list, see CareerBuilder’s press release.
“Employers are using all the tools available to them to assure they make the correct hiring decision, and the use of social media continues to grow,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “For jobseekers it is essential to be aware of what information they’re making available to employers, and to manage their online image. At the same time, hiring managers and human resources departments must carefully consider how to use information obtained from social media and whether it is relevant to a candidate’s qualifications.”
The nationwide survey, which was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder from February 11 to March 6, 20l3, included more than 2,100 hiring managers and human resource professionals.