Greenwald Berk Agency Blog
Social Networking and Employment
2/12/2010 10:15:00 PM
Here is an interesting article from The Hartford.
Fifty-three percent of employers use social networking sites to research job applicants according to a recent survey. Even more say they plan to start using the sites for screening. “Fifty-three Per Cent of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Job Candidates, CareerBuilder.co.uk Survey Finds,” www.earthtimes.org (Jan. 18, 2010).
Forty–three percent of the employers use search engines while 12 percent use Facebook and another 12 percent use LinkedIn. Some employers also follow Twitter and search blogs.
According to the survey, most of the employers using web sites, about 43 percent, found information on sites that caused them not to hire candidates. Employers frowned on discriminatory comments posted, content about drinking or using drugs, and overall poor communication skills. Candidates that posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or bad-mouthed their employer, co-workers or clients were not hired.
On the other hand, employers hired candidates showing solid communication skills. They looked favorably on profiles that supported the candidates' reported professional qualifications. Candidates showing creativity and conveying an overall professional image also received job offers. Employers weighed good references posted by others about the candidate as well. www.CareerBuilder.co.uk.
Once candidates are hired, forty-eight percent of employers monitor their employees’ use of e-mail and the Internet. Twenty-eight percent reported that they have fired an employee for information found on a social networking profile. Employers terminated employees for negative posts about the company or another employee. They also fired employees for sharing confidential information and for representing themselves in an unprofessional manner.
Fifty-three percent of employers use social networking sites to research job applicants according to a recent survey. Even more say they plan to start using the sites for screening. “Fifty-three Per Cent of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Job Candidates, CareerBuilder.co.uk Survey Finds,” www.earthtimes.org (Jan. 18, 2010).
Forty–three percent of the employers use search engines while 12 percent use Facebook and another 12 percent use LinkedIn. Some employers also follow Twitter and search blogs.
According to the survey, most of the employers using web sites, about 43 percent, found information on sites that caused them not to hire candidates. Employers frowned on discriminatory comments posted, content about drinking or using drugs, and overall poor communication skills. Candidates that posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or bad-mouthed their employer, co-workers or clients were not hired.
On the other hand, employers hired candidates showing solid communication skills. They looked favorably on profiles that supported the candidates' reported professional qualifications. Candidates showing creativity and conveying an overall professional image also received job offers. Employers weighed good references posted by others about the candidate as well. www.CareerBuilder.co.uk.
Once candidates are hired, forty-eight percent of employers monitor their employees’ use of e-mail and the Internet. Twenty-eight percent reported that they have fired an employee for information found on a social networking profile. Employers terminated employees for negative posts about the company or another employee. They also fired employees for sharing confidential information and for representing themselves in an unprofessional manner.
