Why do Employers Want to Look at Social Media Before Hiring?
Employers are looking at social media for multiple reasons before hiring potential employees currently. Many feel that social media is an outlet through which they will see any issues with personality or the character of a person that may or may not mesh with the rest of the office or organization.
It also enables employers to see the communication skills that are being utilized by an individual. Social media, especially Facebook, allows an employer to see interests one has, as well as the creativity of how they utilize social media.
According to an article on AOL jobs, one in three employers reject an applicant due to Facebook posts.
A CareerBuilder survey of nearly 2,300 hiring managers showed that nearly 40 percent screened social media and reject job applicants based on what they find.
The article stated problem areas as follows:
Social media does also help. Helping to convince the hiring managers were these advantages:
The article goes on to discuss another study by the Society of Human Resource Management which found that most employers look to the social media sites of Facebook and LinkedIn. More than half of employers said they used sites when recruiting. This has increased since 2008, from 34 to 56 percent. LinkedIn was most checked (95 percent), Facebook second (58 percent), and followed by Twitter (42 percent).
The employers in the study who said they were not currently involved in social media screenings said it would be something they highly considered for future implementation.
It also enables employers to see the communication skills that are being utilized by an individual. Social media, especially Facebook, allows an employer to see interests one has, as well as the creativity of how they utilize social media.
According to an article on AOL jobs, one in three employers reject an applicant due to Facebook posts.
A CareerBuilder survey of nearly 2,300 hiring managers showed that nearly 40 percent screened social media and reject job applicants based on what they find.
The article stated problem areas as follows:
- Candidate's provocative/inappropriate photos/comments -- 49 percent
- Candidate drinking or using drugs -- 45 percent
- Candidate had "poor communication skills" -- 35 percent
- Candidate bad-mouthed a previous employer -- 33 percent
- Candidate made discriminatory comments related to race, gender or religion -- 28 percent
- Candidate lied about qualifications -- 22 percent
Social media does also help. Helping to convince the hiring managers were these advantages:
- Good feel for candidate's personality -- 58 percent
- Conveyed a professional image -- 55 percent
- Background info supported professional qualifications -- 54 percent
- Well-rounded, showed a wide range of interests -- 51 percent
- Great communication skills -- 49 percent
- Creativity -- 44 percent
- Other people posted great references about the candidate -- 34 percent
The article goes on to discuss another study by the Society of Human Resource Management which found that most employers look to the social media sites of Facebook and LinkedIn. More than half of employers said they used sites when recruiting. This has increased since 2008, from 34 to 56 percent. LinkedIn was most checked (95 percent), Facebook second (58 percent), and followed by Twitter (42 percent).
The employers in the study who said they were not currently involved in social media screenings said it would be something they highly considered for future implementation.