Careless use of social media is increasingly leading to workers missing out on their dream jobs, according to one of the country’s leading recruitment firms. Pictured: Jemma Chown, BRG Social Media Manager.
Careless use of social media is increasingly leading to workers missing out on their dream jobs, according to one of the country’s leading recruitment firms.
Berry Recruitment Group (BRG), which has more than 30 branches across England and Wales, said that employers are spending more time researching candidates online.
Seeing photos of would-be employees drinking and taking drugs or reading their discriminatory comments or offensive updates about previous employers can lead to job offers being withdrawn – or subsequent dismissal.
The trend of bosses searching a potential worker’s social media content has risen sharply in the last couple of years.
Therefore BRG – which includes Berry Recruitment, Wild Recruitment and Express Rail Services among its brands – advises candidates to audit their own online presence and delete anything that might affect their job prospects.
Celebrities and high-profile people are often caught in media storms following unwise social media posts – but now all are at risk.
BRG social media manager Jemma Chown said: “More and more employers are now checking candidates’ social media presence.
“Just a cursory check online can reveal a great deal about a person that will not have come across in a CV or in interview.
“Millions of us post updates and pictures on our own personal social media pages; a night out, recent holiday, family get together or perhaps a work event. But how many of us think about the consequences this may have on our career and future employment opportunities?
“It’s no secret, our private lives are no longer private. Hirers have the ability to search online in order to conduct a background check on potential employees. We leave a digital footprint with every social media interaction that we make.
“A US Harris Poll on behalf of Career Builder reflects what we have observed in this country through our branches.
“It found that 60% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, up from 52% last year and 11% in 2006.
“Online content that put employers off included inappropriate photos, videos or information (46%), information about candidates drinking or using drugs (43%), discriminatory comments (33%), bad mouthing previous companies or fellow employees (31%) and poor communication skills (29%).
“Anyone looking for a job should assume that a potential employer will look at their social media posts. And if there is anything untoward it might scupper their chance of a job.
“Candidates should ask themselves the following questions; am I happy with the image my social media profile portrays? Do I have any photos that give a bad first impression? Do I have any inappropriate comments on any of my accounts? What will a potential employer find if they google my name?”
Notes to journalists:
Berry Recruitment is a specialist recruitment group operating in the private and public sectors from 32 locations across the UK.
Employing more than 200 people, Berry is on track to achieve well in excess of £60m turnover in 2016.
There are eight specialist Berry divisions covering office and finance, technical and IT, industrial, driving, rail, construction, care and catering and hospitality.
With its head office in St Albans, Hertfordshire, Berry was formed by recruitment industry experts including Tony Berry, former head of Blue Arrow and Manpower, and Ian Langley, Chairman of infrastructure recruitment specialist, Airswift Holdings.
Berry’s strapline is ‘combining talent with opportunity’.
Tel: 01727 898650. Email: spencer.berry@berryrecruitment.co.uk
For more information contact Ed Baker, Account Director at Deep South Media on 01202 534487 or 07788392965
