As social networking sites become more and more popular, the lines between work and social activities are in danger of becoming somewhat blurred according to Felix Wetzel, the group marketing director at Jobsite.
He warned that as these networks become more popular more employers will use them when looking for personal information about potential job candidates.
He explained that while some firms, including umbrella companies, will be able to differentiate between a candidate’s work and social life, others may be influenced by what they see online.
“I think the future will see more employers using online sources to ‘screen’ potential recruits [and] I think it will always be used alongside other methods such as CVs, telephone interviews, assessment days and references,” he said.
In fact a recent survey showed that 53% of employers already use social networking sites to research job candidates and a further 12% plan to do so within the near future.
A whopping 43% of the more than 450 employers surveyed reported that they found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate. Poor communication skills, content about drinking and drugs, and lying about qualifications are obvious no-gos as far as employers as concerned.
However, if leveraged properly, social media sites can be an extremely useful tool for the jobseeker. A professional profile, backed up with good references and proof of qualifications goes a long way in the eyes of potential employers.
Even after you’ve secured a position be ever mindful of the information you post. 28 percent of employers reported that they have fired an employee for information found on his/her social networking profile.
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