Do our jobs depend on Facebook? (2012)

Research has found that almost half of employers have rejected a potential worker after looking through their Facebook and Twitter profiles online.

Employers are now widely using social networking sites to research their own employees, as well as people who are applying for jobs at their company. 

The main reason for this is to check if their information is correct, for example about qualifications or experience they claim they have, as many candidates have been found out for lying abut these facts.

Students are probably under the most threat, and are at most risk of losing out on a job opportunity due to material that is on their Facebook profiles.

Six out of ten students that I spoke to at Birmingham City University admitted that they have images on their online profiles that they would not like their parents to see, let alone a future employer.

Studies have shown that 28% of students have been declined a job opportunity because they have lied about the qualifications they have. A further 9% were overlooked for talking about drink or drugs on their profile, and 7% for presenting 'inappropriate' photos online.

According to Career Adviser, Farham Yasin, “More employers are now using social networking sites to uncover any digital dirt.”

Employers are making decisions based on the “real” personality and lifestyle of the job-seeker as they feel that this would affect how they perform in a job.

Paul Wright, a manager of a company in Birmingham, added that, “I would probably change my opinion of a potential employee if I saw photos of them doing something inappropriate. It puts you off wanting to hire them.”

He also expressed that students are under most risk and warned that they should be careful with what they show online.

Speaking to students, it appears that many of them wouldn't actually change their Facebook profiles.

Jenna James said, “It's funny having photos like that on your profile. Employers know what teenagers and students are like so it cant be much of a surprise.”

Recent research has shown that in 2008, 22% of employers were googling their potential workers, and it is believed that this figure has dramatically risen in 2011 to over 50%.

Social networking sites give the opportunity for people to meet people and post pictures and comments for people to see. However, what if this was threatening your chance of getting a dream job?