Do hiring managers look at a candidate’s social networking sites?

According to a question I posted on LinkedIn in February, 2010, some hiring managers indicated they use social networking sites to screen candidates. While not all managers use these sites, it’s important for job seekers to be aware that there is a potential for a hiring manager to view (or attempt to view) their sites. Here are a few excerpts of responses:

Social networking sites can serve to provide insight on a person's interests, associations, character and values - critical information when attempting to assess organizational (culture and values) fit.

I will use Facebook or Twitter to find out if the candidate is smart enough to either block their sites or to make sure the information they put on their site reflects them in a positive and professional manner. In sales you can expect candidates will meet a lot of clients who won’t hesitate to do the same. I want to make sure they are portrayed in a light which would not reflect badly on my company.

I think that social networking sites are actually a good thing to "weed out" candidates. I understand that sites such as FB are geared more towards personal/social interactions, but I believe that a good candidate will still have some tact and personal responsibility when posting things. If a candidate has a risqué profile picture or doesn't make their profile private, I am led to believe that they may not have the critical thinking skills and overall professional demeanor to represent to a client.

Most of what I would do is on LinkedIn ... I use it for the following reasons.

1) To see if the dates on their resume match up with the dates on LinkedIn (often when I recruited in the tech space this came in handy). Also, I make sure job titles and responsibilities match. Candidates are less likely to bend the truth on LinkedIn since their colleagues and bosses will see what they have on here.

2) I also use LinkedIn to see if candidates have references on LinkedIn who have recommended their work.

Are You on Twitter?

With the saturated job market, more companies are tweeting to find job candidates. Companies are finding Twitter a less expensive alternative than job boards, and job seekers are finding it can be more convenient. Read more in the career section of wsj.com: http://bit.ly/3PC0bi

Hunting for a job? On LinkedIn?

If you are hunting for a job and are on LinkedIn, be sure that the experience on your resume matches your LinkedIn profile. There should be no discrepancies that could raise a red flag. Also, it's important to include recommendations on your LinkedIn profile. These recommendations add value and credibility to your qualifications.

Social Networking Posts: Be Careful

Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are great ways to communicate and network; however, remember to think twice about what you post. Here's a story of a job searcher who got burned by a tweet on Twitter.

Gain an Edge in Your Job Search Through Social Networking

On Sunday, March 15, KARE 11 TV's "Extra" highlighted how the use of social networking sites can give you an edge while job searching. The "Extra" featured a U of M senior who is utilizing Twitter as well as LinkedIn for her job search. A recruiter/headhunter also had been interviewed for the "Extra" and commented that LinkedIn is one job site that no job seeker can afford not to use and many treat it like an online resume.

I am an advocate for the use of social networking sites, and I'd like to share a personal example of how LinkedIn has worked for a job search. One of my clients who is connected to me on LinkedIn was jobsearching and looking for a contact person at "Company X." Through online research, she found names of key players in the organization and noticed one of the key players was connected to one of my connections. To make a long story short, I contacted my connection, and he contacted his connection at "Company X." Within 24 hours I obtained a contact name for my client.