Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

What is the perfect job candidate? I mean beside you want to know what skills they have or what college they go to, don’t you want to know what kind of person they are? Maybe you are saying that is why interview is for but social networks can surely get a better understanding of that person. One best way to know a person is to know their friends. I did not mean to you have to stalk that person. Just go on to their Facebook site and see their photos and comments. “Some workplace studies suggest that almost 40% of employers have used Facebook and other social networking sites to gather information on job candidates. In cases where they have found negative information, more than 80% of employers consider it when making hiring decisions.” (HR Library, http://www.gneil.com/library/Using-Facebook-for-Hiring) Wow, 40% is a high number. But is it legal to do that?

Issues we are facing more than that, which including invasion of privacy, false information, and etc. For the employers, they will want to know what kind of person you are either on duty or off duty. What is the lesson learned here? Do not post your photos that you don’t want your employers and your mom to see on your Facebook.

More facts: About 45% of the companies are screening social sites for potential hires. While only 18% of the employers found that positive, but 35% found that negative.

Source of the facts: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/new-infographic-shows-how-companies-target-unemployed_n_918816.html