When CareerBuilder surveyed employers last year, 22% of them were using social media sites to check out prospective employees. That number has more than doubled since then with 45% of companies using social networking sites to research job candidates.
Where are companies going to be looking for you? CareerBuilder reports that "Of those who conduct online searches/background checks of job candidates, 29 percent use Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn and 21 percent use MySpace. Eleven percent search blogs while 7 percent follow candidates on Twitter. "
What's interesting is what they find. There is a ton of information online about being careful about what you post if you're job searching, thinking about a job search, or you're gainfully employed. That covers almost everyone in the workforce. But, I guess people don't listen. Search Twitter for "I hate my job" to get an idea of what employees don't mind saying about their job.
That's obviously, or maybe not so obviously, given the number of people who say it, not the smartest thing to do if you want to keep your job, but it gets worse. CareerBuilder reports that 35% of employers reported they found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate. Here's some of what they found:
- Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information - 53%
- Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs - 44%
- Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients - 35%
- Candidate showed poor communication skills - 29%
- Candidate made discriminatory comments - 26%
- Candidate lied about qualifications - 24%
- Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer - 20%
There's a school of though that says that companies should check you out online because it's an ethical issue and your personal life has nothing to do with your private life. You know what? It doesn't matter who should or shouldn't be checking, because it's happening. And, if you're in career mode, you need to be aware that prospective employers are going to find you.
So, be careful, set your privacy settings on Facebook, polish up your LinkedIn Profile, and be really careful what you tweet.
More: Job Search Internet Privacy
Poll: Are You Careful About What You Post?
Image Copyright CareerBuilder
Like it or not, Ms. Doyle is spot on. On the bright side, I can attest to two senior executives who where found through their social networking entries. Both were vetted based on their writing, their attitude and their commentary.
Someone once said, “don’t say anything on a social networking site you wouldn’t want heard on the local news.” I would add, don’t say in publich what you wouldn’t say to your mother.
Did you know it is rumored Oracle searched twitter to learn more about the Sun employees they would or would not keep? Urban rumor? I think not. Too common these days. And it IS legal.
This is all changing as we watch. More often now, as illustrated by Alison herself, among many others, senior people in a position to make or influence employment decisions are themselves becoming deeply involved in social networking. As they do, I think they will become more tolerant of certain non-extreme conduct and more accepting of a private-work distinction.
Speaking for myself, recent experiences are teaching me that there is a middle ground where one can derive substantial personal satisfaction from participation, but only by including some information at a somewhat more personal level — and not necessarily hiding it behind privacy controls.
My prediction is that while obvious things like admitting drug use, “I hate my job,” or providing evidence that resume facts were fabricated will always be held against employees/applicants, there will develop a greater tolerance for “middle ground” conduct. Like the infamous and ubiquitous college drinking pictures (are you really not going to hire ANYONE with one of those?). Like “I had a bad day at work today and SOMETIMES my boss is hard to get along with.” Even like posting some very artful nudes on flickr as part of a sensitive and introspective one-a-day self-portrait series. Who does that hurt? Is it really bad judgment that would affect work judgment? Like someone who expresses strong political views that are within the broad and polarized mainstream (i.e., short of “Obama is a Nazi”).
We would give people some leeway in the old days if they happened to be seen drinking a few too many at a party or had rumors flying about their divorce or whatever. That was considered private. Why is cyberspace SO different?
Nicely written! Social networking will soon become the most effective way of building your professional career and creating a personal brand. However, one will have to invest time in learning the effectiveness of these sites and ways to use them properly.
By the way, I am new to LinkedIn too and have found this resource quite useful. It is a new book called “How to REALLY use LinkedIn” by networking expert Jan Vermeiren. Check it out, you can find a free lite version at http://www.how-to-really-use-linkedin.com/
It’s definately a sign of the times and a trend that’s only going to grow over time. I tell many job seekers…especially ones that tend to be heavy Facebook users to be careful about their oneline footprints as employers have the ability to research and review these things. It’s a shame for a otherwise qualified candidate not to be able to get a job because of an ill advised comment on a social networking site.
But does this include private facebooks and social media? On facebook you can allow only your close friends and family to see your pictures and comments. If someone somehow manages to get past that and view what they were never meant to view can they hold that against you?
And what can you do if someone posts a photo of you and makes it public?
Drinking is not illegal and as long as you aren’t doing it during work hours I don’t think there is any reason to pretend you don’t do it.
And as far as inappropriate, how can anything be inappropriate when done on your own time? (providing that it is legal). I understand that you CAN be fired or not hired for these things but I think it is immoral to fire someone who does their job well just because of something they said or did out side of work that you don’t agree with. And perhaps there should be laws to protect employees from being judged based on their personal lives.