While LinkedIn is far and away the dominant social networking tool for both job seekers and employers, employers know what Facebook is too - and enough of them use it as a form of supplementary background-gathering on prospective employees that job seekers should be aware that, especially if the job seeker is looking for an executive or managerial position, what people can see on Facebook could come back to bite them.
By Sandy Smith
That photo of you playing beer pong with your friends, for instance.
While only seven percent of employers surveyed by the Vault.com career site earlier this year admitted to blackballing candidates for openings based on information they found on social networking sites, more than a third said they do look at social networking site profiles when evaluating candidates. Four percent check social media as an official part of the recruiting process, and one percent use social media as an actual screener, rejecting anywhere from 11 to 20 percent of candidates based on what they find out about them on social networking sites.
As LinkedIn is the primary tool socially networked employers and job seekers use to find talent and jobs, Facebook probably won't help you land that job - but it could hinder you, as 11 percent of employers told Vault.com that they do look at candidate profiles there.
While Facebook has made it easier for members to keep their personal information private, the nature of the site means it's still all too easy for someone to see something you'd probably rather they didn't. Here, then, are four tips for reducing the chance of that happening:
--Hide your personal photos, or at least those you wouldn't want to let outside of a small circle of friends. And if one of your friends posts a photo of you that you consider potentially embarrassing, ask your friend to restrict who can see it. 60 percent of recuiters recommend this step, but only 51 percent of candidates do it. No need to delete the photos, however, at least not yet: only one-third of recruiters told Vault that candidates should delete embarrassing photos.
--Police your Wall for objectionable posts. 56 percent of recruiters advise job seekers to delete possibly offensive posts, even if someone else wrote them. And 51 percent go a step further to recommend that job seekers keep their Wall private completely.
--Check would-be employers for their social media policies. In 2010, 48 percent of employers had one, up from 36 percent in 2009, and another 27 percent say they had one in the works. If the 93 percent of employers who say they haven't rejected candidates based on their social media presence still believe, as one did, that "what people do outside of work is their own business," then you may not need to worry about what you do on Facebook overly much, but if you say something about an employer there, it could open up a can of worms.
--Finally, focus more on your online presence on LinkedIn, for that's where the employers are looking for talent: 74% of respondents to the Vault survey say they use the career-oriented social networking site to actively search for potential new hires.
By Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for BusinessWorkForce.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Nexxt. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on BusinessWorkForceBlog.com.
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