I keep seeing articles about how information from individuals’ social media posts can be helpful in making hiring decisions. Every time I see it, I cringe a little and wanted to share my reasons why. Let’s talk about the most common way that social media is used in the selection process - hiring managers peruse social media pages of candidates looking for any kind of information or behavior that could lead them to conclude that their candidate would be a poor hire.
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survey by careerbuilder.com states that 51% of the employers surveyed found information on social media that caused them to NOT hire a candidate. The article lists reasons ranging from posting provocative photos and drinking/drug use, to a general unprofessional image. On the surface, these might sound like good reasons to pass over a candidate, but let’s look at how this fits into selection best practices.
