Study on Social Networking
August 20, 2009
August 19, 2009 –
As social networking grows increasingly pervasive, more
employers are utilizing these sites to screen potential employees. Forty-five percent of employers
reported in a recent CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to research job
candidates, a big jump from 22 percent last year. Another 11 percent plan to start using social
networking sites for screening. More than 2,600 hiring managers participated in the survey, which
was completed in June 2009.
Of those who conduct online searches/background checks of job candidates, 29 percent use
Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn and 21 percent use MySpace. One-in-ten (11 percent) search
blogs while 7 percent follow candidates on Twitter.
The top industries most likely to screen job candidates via social networking sites or online search
engines include those that specialize in technology and sensitive information: Information
Technology (63 percent) and Professional & Business Services (53 percent).
Why Employers Disregarded Candidates After Screening Online
Job seekers are cautioned to be mindful of the information they post online and how they
communicate directly with employers. Thirty-five percent of employers reported they have found
content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate. The top examples cited
include:
• Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information – 53 percent
• Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs – 44 percent
• Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients – 35 percent
• Candidate showed poor communication skills – 29 percent
• Candidate made discriminatory comments – 26 percent
• Candidate lied about qualifications – 24 percent
• Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer – 20 percent
Fourteen percent of employers have disregarded a candidate because the candidate sent a message
using an emoticon such as a smiley face while 16 percent dismissed a candidate for using text
language such as GR8 (great) in an email or job application.
Why Employers Hired Candidates After Screening Online
Job seekers are also encouraged to leverage social media when advertising their skills and
experience. Eighteen percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking
sites that caused them to hire the candidate. The top examples include:
• Profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization –
50 percent
• Profile supported candidate’s professional qualifications – 39 percent
• Candidate was creative – 38 percent
• Candidate showed solid communication skills – 35 percent
• Candidate was well-rounded – 33 percent
• Other people posted good references about the candidate – 19 percent
• Candidate received awards and accolades – 15 percent
“Social networking is a great way to make connections with potential job opportunities and promote
your personal brand across the Internet,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human
Resources at CareerBuilder. “Make sure you are using this resource to your advantage by conveying
a professional image and underscoring your qualifications.”
Haefner recommends the following DOs and DON’Ts to keep a positive image online:
1) DO clean up digital dirt BEFORE you begin your job search. Remove any photos, content
and links that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
2) DO consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook or BrightFuse.com
to establish relationships with thought leaders, recruiters and potential referrals.
3) DO keep gripes offline. Keep the content focused on the positive, whether that relates to
professional or personal information. Makes sure to highlight specific accomplishments
inside and outside of work.
4) DON’T forget others can see your friends, so be selective about who you accept as friends.
Monitor comments made by others. Consider using the “block comments” feature or setting
your profile to “private” so only designated friends can view it.
5) DON’T mention your job search if you’re still employed.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of
CareerBuilder.com between May 22 and June 10, 2009 among 2,667 hiring managers and human
resource professionals (employed full-time; not self-employed; with at least significant involvement
in hiring decisions; non- government) ages 18 and over. With a pure probability sample of 2,667 one
could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 1.9
percentage points. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.
About CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract
their most important asset – their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com, is the largest in
the U.S. with more than 23 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 32 million resumes.
CareerBuilder works with the world’s top employers, providing resources for everything from
employment branding and data analysis to talent acquisition. More than 9,000 Web sites, including
140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder’s proprietary
job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune
Company, The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT),
CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Asia. For more
information, visit www.careerbuilder.com
- Categories: Articles, Employee Engagement, Employee attraction
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