A new survey by Hays suggests that more than a third of job-hunters don’t believe employers would look at their social media profiles.
The survey of over 770 people revealed that 36% of respondents thought employers wouldn’t attempt to view their profiles, and therefore made no changes to their social media habits when job-seeking. However just over half (55%) said they did alter their privacy settings when job-seeking, while 9% admitted editing content and untagging photos of themselves.
Hays’ regional MD Mark Sheldon said “While the majority of people are taking sensible steps to protect their privacy online when looking for a job, it’s worrying to see that so many people don’t recognise the potential pitfalls associated with social media use. Used well, social media can be a valuable tool for job-hunters, but employers are looking for someone who stands out for the right reasons.”
He went on to stress the importance of individuals managing their online profiles efficiently, given the ease with which employers could now access “an incredible amount of personal detail” about them.
