Three in five recruiters have turned down a candidate over social media content
Seven in 10 employers admit to checking a job candidate’s social media presence as part of the hiring process, a new study revealed.
Researchers at online employment website CareerBuilder interviewed more than 1,000 HR professionals and hiring managers across industries about the importance of using social media when screening potential hires.
Most respondents (70%) claim they use social networking sites to research prospective job candidates, while some (7%) are planning to do the same. Of those who conduct social media screening, 57% say they discovered content that caused them not to hire a candidate.
READ MORE: Five ways to use social media when recruiting
The results show how employers are paying close attention to applicants’ online presence to find out more about their character before offering them a job.
Having a social media account isn’t necessarily a prerequisite when applying for a job. However, employers appreciate having access to additional information on a potential hire.
But nearly half (47%) of hiring managers claim they are less likely to screen an applicant if they can’t find them online, while 28% say they use a candidate’s social media presence to collect more info before scheduling them for an interview. Meanwhile, one in five employers expect job candidates to already have an online presence.
Here are other highlights of the CareerBuilder survey:
What employers are looking for when checking a candidate’s social media presence
READ MORE: Social media misuse taking a dark turn
Content that could cause employers not to hire a candidate
Content that helped convince employers to hire a candidate
