Seventy-one percent of U.S. hiring decision-makers agree that looking at candidates’ social media profiles is an effective way to screen applicants, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.
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Furthermore, 70% believe employers should screen all applicants’ social media profiles, while the majority (67%) say they use social networking sites to research potential job candidates. For those using social networking to research candidates, more than half (55%) have found content that caused them not to hire the applicant.
And even after the candidate has gotten the job, 78% of U.S. hiring decision-makers believe employees should maintain a work-appropriate social media profile.
Social Media and Recruiting
“I do believe social media is a good screening tool to see how the candidate communicates with others in an informal setting and also as a way to screen for potential red flags,” said John Calabrese, Express franchise owner in Utica, New York. “It’s effective in conjunction with other screening tools such as resumes and references.”
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In one instance, Calabrese said his office was prepared to extend an offer of employment to an applicant for a position at a local hospital.
“The employer checked the candidate’s Facebook page and observed profanity and inappropriate photos,” he said. “We were asked to identify other candidates for the position.”
Jan Riggins, general manager for two Express franchises in Fort Worth, Texas, has also had clients decide against hiring candidates based on their social media profiles, but personally doesn’t think it is an effective screening tool.
“I do not believe it is an effective way to screen a candidate, especially with the current highly charged climate,” she said. “I have many friends, family and acquaintances who I would absolutely screen out for a position by looking at their social media profiles. But I also know they have been incredibly successful in their careers. I understand that people use social media for personal use and to express ideas, beliefs and behaviors they would never take into the work environment.”
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