25% of Hiring Managers Use Internet Search Engines to Screen Candidates… 51% Didn’t Hire Because of What They Found

According to a survey by Careerbuilder, over a quarter of hiring managers have looked at the web before making a decision to hire a candidate for a job opening. Over half of those have made a decision not to hire someone based upon what they saw.

Here are the things that hiring managers are finding about job candidates online:

31% – candidate lied about qualifications

25% – candidate had poor communication skills

24% – candidate was linked to criminal behavior

19% – candidate bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employee

19% – candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs

15% – candidate shared confidential information from previous employers

12% – candidate lied about an absence

11% – candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs

8% – candidate’s screen name was unprofessional

People now more than ever should realize that what they do online may have serious financial consequences for them in the professional world. On the other hand ’smart’ professionals will use these tools to create a positive personal brand that will be easily referenced. On the positive side hiring managers found the following about job candidates:

64% – candidate’s background information supported their professional qualifications for the job

40% – candidate was well-rounded, showed a wide range of interests

34% – candidate had great communication skills

31% – candidate’s site conveyed a professional image

31% – got a good feel for the candidate’s personality, could see a good fit within the company culture

23% – other people posted great references about the candidate

23% – candidate was creative

19% – candidate received awards and accolades 

Read Careerbuilder’s recommendations and the full article at:

One-in-Four Hiring Managers Have Used Internet Search Engines to Screen Job Candidates. [Careerbuilder]

Also read:

Employers Google Job Candidates, Check Social Networking Web Sites. [SmartPros]

Employers Turn to Blogs to Screen Job Seekers. [Jist]