Social media recruiting is in trend, but if you believe that this is just to search the job seekers then you are wrong. As per the recent survey initiated by CareerBuilder, 51% employers have rejected the candidates based on few findings at the social media accounts, which was 43% and 34% in 2013 and 2012 respectively. This means the number of rejected candidates based on social media is rising sharply.

1. Are recruiters rejecting candidates based on their
social media accounts?
‘You reap what you sow’ is true in today’s recruiting culture as well. If you have something on your
social media sites that can go against you in professional terms, then you might need to keep check
on that or otherwise you will lose your chance to get the job you were trying for long.
Social media recruiting is in trend, but if you believe that this is just to search the job seekers then
you are wrong. As per the recent survey initiated by CareerBuilder, 51% employers have rejected
the candidates based on few findings at the social media accounts, which was 43% and 34% in
2013 and 2012 respectively. This means the number of rejected candidates based on social media
is rising sharply.
Here are the top aspects (as per the survey) that the employers look at social media sites
while looking for a candidate:
• 46% looks at whether job candidate posted provocative or inappropriate
• 41% looks at whether job candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs
• 36% looks at whether job candidates bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employee
• 32% looks at whether job candidates showed poor communication skills
• 28% looks at whether job candidates posted discriminatory comments related to race, gender,
religion etc.
• 25% looks at whether job candidates lied about qualifications
• 24% looks at whether job candidates shared confidential information from previous employers
• 22% looks at whether job candidate was linked to criminal behavior
• 21% looks at whether job candidate’s screen name was unprofessional
• 13% looks at whether job candidate lied about an absence
What Job seekers need to check?
• Check all your privacy settings. Make sure you set privacy setting for the content that you do not
want others to see.
• Make sure nobody posts anything unprofessional about you at your personal profile. Even if there
is, get that clean, or make sure it isn’t visible to strangers.
• Mind your behaviour at the social media site. Make sure you do not tweet or post about your bad
habits like unpunctuality, or non-ethical work habits.
• Your profile pictures and cover pictures matter, so make sure that doesn’t make you look
unprofessional.
Source: CareerBuilder!