53% of Employers use Social Networking Sites to Screen Candidates

More than half (53%) of employers reported in a recent CareerBuilder UK survey that they use social networking sites to research job candidates. Another 12% plan to start using social networking sites for screening. More than 450 employers participated in the survey, which was completed in December 2009.

Of those who conduct online searches/background checks of job candidates, 43% use search engines, 12% use Facebook, 12% use LinkedIn, and 4% follow candidates on Twitter.

Forty-three per cent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate. The most frequently-cited reason:  the candidate lied about qualifications (38%).

More details at Career Builder UK’s Facebook site.