According to the latest study by CareerBuilder128 % of Canadian employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, and 3 % plan to do so in the future. The figure nonetheless remains lower than that of our American neighbours, where 45% of employers now claim to consult these sites2, a number that has doubled since last year.
The results? More negative than positive
Evidently, these well-trafficked sites increasingly influence the recruitment process. 26 % of Canadian employers using social networking sites have reported that the information they find on these sites has already dissuaded them from hiring a candidate. 55% cite inappropriate photos, 50% cite reading confidential information about previous employers, 38% find discriminatory comments, 36% have been dissuaded by evocations of alcohol or drugs, and 26% have discovered candidates lying about their qualifications.
On the other hand, 14 % of employers report having been positively influenced by their research on social networking sites, notably because the profile confirmed the candidate’s professional qualifications (78%), the individual received awards and accolades (70%), he or she demonstrated strong communication skills (52%) or the profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization (52%).
Facebook in the lead
Facebook is consulted by 52 % of Canadian employers who use the web to conduct background checks on job candidates, a much higher proportion than in the United States (29%). Coming in second after Facebook is LinkedIn (39%), followed by personal blogs (25%), Myspace (23%) and finally Twitter (11%).
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner recently negotiated a settlement with Facebook to modify its settings in order to better secure the privacy of the site’s users. For example, Facebook can no longer hold onto personal information from deactivated accounts, nor can they display the email addresses of non-members without their consent. However, these changes should have little impact on recruiters, and if anything will act favourably in softening the site’s content.
But watch out! Recruiters are not the only ones consulting social networking sites these days, as job seekers too are turning to the Internet to read up on employers. Whether this commentary is available on Facebook, Twitter or sites like RateMyEmployer, companies too must now survey their cyber-image closely!
1 The study was conducted in Canada by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder in June 2009, and surveyed 419 hiring managers and human resources professionals.
2 The study was conducted in the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder in June 2009, and surveyed 2,667 hiring managers and human resources professionals.