MySpace costing people new jobs at record pace
October 9, 2008 by Shane BorerPosted in: "Would you want this person in Finance?", Special report, Tech failure
Ever get the feeling co-workers and job candidates are lying to you? They are — but more people are finding other ways to discover those secrets.
More financial pros are using social networking sites to research potential job candidates. In fact, a full 22% of managers said they used Web sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn to dig up dirt on job applicants. That’s up from only 11% of managers in 2006, according to the recent report from CareerBuilder.
And what did these managers discover in their online sleuthing? For the most part, the findings weren’t good. Nearly half (43%) said the content they found caused them to dismiss a candidate from consideration. Here are the findings:
- 41% — candidate posted info about them drinking or using drugs
- 40% — applicant posted inappropriate photographs or information
- 29% — potential hire had poor communication or writing skills
- 28% — candidate trashed their previous company or fellow employee
- 27% — applicant lied about professional qualifications
- 22% — candidate used derogatory remarks related to race, gender, religion, etc.
- 21% — potential hire was linked to criminal behavior
Of course, social sites won’t ruin everyone’s chances at their dream job. Twenty-four percent of those polled said the content they found on an applicant actually helped solidify their decision to hire them. These online profiles supported their qualifications, displayed great communication skills and showed off their creativity, among other reasons.
What do you think? Do social networking sites give you the chance to really see what an applicant is like? Do social sites have a place in the workplace? Let us know in the comments section below.
Tags: CareerBuilder, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, New hire, Resume lies
October 10th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
It would be ridiculous of hiring managers to think that candidates are not checking out the potential hiring company through the company website and so I see no difference in checking out the candidate on ‘their web site’. As hiring managers we are receiving less and less information from previous employers and checking out social web sites is becoming part of the hiring process.
October 10th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
My name is on myspace however it’s not me. How could employers know they are looking at the correct profile?
October 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I am fairly sure viewing pictures if available would be the actual proof.
Other than that it would be hard to base hire selection on “possibile” matches.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
my Myspace page is nothing but girls, so they’ll know I’m not sexist
October 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
The fact that some people are open and honest on social network sites is a plus for hiring managers. My concern is some people are not honest, and worse, some people may set up fake personalities to trash an enemy or former partner.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
If you search for a person on facebook or myspace using their specific e-mail address, you are then sure you have the right person. I always search this way, and never by name, because there is sure to be more than one of many common names, and I’m not interested in clicking through all of their pages to see if the photo matches the person I interviewed.
This of course presents the problem of someone just using a different e-mail on their resume than they use for social networking. It is surprising how many candidates do not do this, given the good common sense of it. My opinion of a candidate certaily goes down if they are stupid enough to put an inaproriate e-mail address on their resume (jonhotbuns69@xxxx.com, just for example!)
October 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
My space is not Public and is marked Private and only ones I want are invited. Plus how do you know that someone is sitting up the their myspace for them since they need one to communicate or just keep an eye out on their children’s myspace. I would think this is getting to personal on an interview and is not right.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Is it legal to hire or not hire someone based on their MySpace page….I mean if that information should ever come to light?
October 10th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I think this is good for a company to use a social network to check out potential clients for things like drug use, racial comments, and comments about an employer or ex-employer. Although I am not sure how I feel about them letting someone go for things like drinking, or not having good communication skills based on a social network. This is still a social network not a professional website.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I feel that the website spaces have it’s pro’s and it’s con’s.
Just because someone enjoys what I would call strange activities does not mean that they are going to be a bad employee. In fact, by eliminating someone by their personal time could possibly cost an employer a great asset to their company.
The basic background, criminal checks I think are enough, of course, along with the employment verification portion, testing. During the interview process you can get a sense if the person is going to work with your group of employees or not. Putting them on probation or hiring a temp from an agency for a period of time allows for both the employee and the employer to see how well they can work together.
You wouldn’t just jump into a relationship and say you are in love with them without getting to know them first. Employer/Employee relationships are simular.
Take Care,
Julia
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
“Is it legal to hire or not hire someone based on their MySpace page….I mean if that information should ever come to light?”
It is illegal and unethical, they’re going based off irrelevant information in the work place, I personally worry that if someone saw my myspace page they won’t hire me because I’m not religious or some other reason, so I use 2 completely different e-mail addresses.