Can social media cost you a job? While a positive online presence can help you get the job,
it could disqualify you as a candidate also
. In fact, the same SHRM study found that 36 percent of companies have disqualified candidates based on what they found through an online search or on their social media profiles.
About a third of employers who screen candidates via social networks found information that caused them to hire a candidate
, according to LinkedIn, and this included content that showed personality and interests confirming the person was a good fit for the company culture.
Absolutely. A study found that
67% of employers screen job candidates through social networks
. And what they find could give you a leg up, but it could also disqualify you from your dream job. The same study found 54% of companies have actually disqualified job candidates after viewing an applicant's social media.
And can your social media posts hurt your chances of getting the job? The answer is yes. In fact,
57% of employers admitted to having disqualified a job candidate after a social media screening
, according to CareerBuilder survey. Ouch!
Bottom line:
a compliant social media screening is legal
, and you should consider it an extension of the traditional background screening process.
Since California is an at-will employment state — and California Labor Code 2922 states that at-will employees “may be terminated at the will of either party on notice to the other” —
employers can fire employees for anything, including their social media posts.
“
Forty-eight percent of hiring managers who screen candidates via social networks said they've found information that caused them not to hire a candidate
— down slightly from 51 percent last year,” according to CareerBuilder.
Social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram have given many organizations a new hiring tool. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey,
70% of employers check out applicants' profiles as part of their screening process
, and 54% have rejected applicants because of what they found.
- Social media gives out an impression: …
- You will have to create a serious social media account: …
- You can't be your normal self: …
- Social media is an open platform: …
- Rival rides: …
- Holding on to your current job can be difficult: …
- Not all employers use social media:
Can employers find your TikTok?
It is legal for employers to look at and check public social media platforms
. If a company asks for your personal information tied to your accounts, that's a red flag — consider withdrawing your application.
Do jobs Check your search history?
Can My Boss or Manager See My Browsing History? The short answer to this question is — yes.
Your employer can indeed see your browsing history through remote employee monitoring software
. You should assume that your employer checks your browsing history regularly.
Social media accounts don't typically show up on background checks
. Most background checks include employment history, credit information and legal problems. However, there may be some cases where social accounts show up on a social media background check.
When done improperly, social media screening can be considered unethical or even illegal
. Protect yourself. Social media screening is essentially tapping into a job candidate's private life. It can reveal information about protected characteristics like age, race, nationality, disabilities, gender, religion, etc.
It is completely legal for employers to check employees' social media profiles
. Some states even allow employers to solicit social media usernames and passwords from their workers.
However,
an employer can view public posts on social media just like anyone else
. And if an employee voluntarily authorizes a manager to access posts, without prompting from the employer, it could be interpreted as a waiver of the employee's expectation of privacy.
Social media policies are important for both employer and employee. In conclusion, social media conduct is not without limitation.
Employees could be dismissed
and it opens employers up to claims of vicarious liability for defamation and harassment.
Can my employer use my Facebook against me?
Employers can use anything they can access in the course of employment decisions, if it does not violate the law
. It is law that employers may not use information found online to discriminate on the basis a protected classification. (Such as gender, race, genetic information, disability, national origin, etc.)
- Custodian.
- Data entry clerk.
- Security guard.
- Medical transcriber.
- Veterinary technician.
- Graphic designer.
- Laboratory technician.
- Medical coder.
Hiring and Screening Candidates on Social Media
A survey conducted in 2020 of 1005 hiring decision-makers by the Harris poll found that
67%
of employers use social media sites to research potential job candidates.
A variety of laws may be implicated. Most prominently, if an employee's social media activity could be perceived as protected concerted activity, the employer could be violating the National Labor Relations Act if it disciplines the employee for the conduct — regardless of whether the employer is unionized,” she said.
Having a social media presence will certainly benefit your job search
. So long as you are aware of what you are sharing publicly on social media doesn't discourage recruiters from wanting to interview you, it will help your credibility. However not having an online presence can make a difference.
Do employers Google you?
Like it or not,
the majority of employers — 66 percent — will Google a job candidate they're considering
, according to a 2018 CareerBuilder study. What's more, 70 percent will check out your public Facebook and other social media posts, and 57 percent won't hire you if they don't like what they find.
Can work see what you do on wifi?
If you're using a company computer (or wifi connection),
your employer can not only monitor your work email and projects, but they can log your key strokes, including on “private” sites like Facebook or your personal email account
.
Can my work wifi see what I'm doing on my phone?
In general,
assume that your employer can see anything that you do on their network
. It is their Internet connection after all. You can obfuscate it using VPN and other methods that will show up in other answers. However, be aware that other individuals besides your employer may be able to see it too.
Do companies track your internet use?
A 2015 survey from the American Management Association found that
at least 66 percent of U.S. companies monitor employee internet use
, 45 percent log keystrokes, and 43 percent track employee e-mails. The systems and software employers use to monitor activity may be new, but the practice itself is not.
Unprofessional Language
Correct spelling and grammar cost nothing, so use it to keep up a professional demeanour online and it may even get you a job one day! In the same way, unprofessional comments or language can also be a huge negative for your career.
Pros Cons | 1. Allows employees to take a much-needed mental break 1. Decreases productivity | 2. Improves employee engagement 2. Social media fails | 3. Strengthens team bonding and workplace relationships 3. Causes jealousy among employees |
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