• 71% of Hiring Decision-Makers Agree Social Media is Effective for Screening Applicants

    Eugene, OR - October 14, 2020

    Seventy-one percent of U.S. hiring decision-makers agree that looking at candidates' social media profiles is an effective way to screen applicants, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

    Furthermore, 70% believe employers should screen all applicants' social media profiles, while the majority (67%) say they use social networking sites to research potential job candidates. For those using social networking to research candidates, more than half (55%) have found content that caused them not to hire the applicant.

    And even after the candidate has gotten the job, 78% of U.S. hiring decision-makers believe employees should maintain a work-appropriate social media profile.

    Cleaning Up Social Media

    With the country continuing to reopen from the COVD-19 shutdown, Express experts say now is the ideal time for job seekers to clean up their social media accounts to avoid losing out on employment opportunities.

    Here are some basic rules job seekers and employees should follow when it comes to their online presence:

    1. If you don't want everyone to see it, then don't post it on social media or make it public.
    2. Be purposeful and intentional in what you are posting by asking yourself "What is my goal in posting this?"
    3. Less is more. Personal situations should remain with friends and or family. Sharing everything can be perceived negatively, giving those reading a post reason to judge or make assumptions.
    4. Don't complain about your employer or coworkers on social media. If there are issues or concerns, they should be brought to the attention of the decision makers who are trained and equipped to support a positive outcome

     

    "Social media can be a great tool for connecting with others, but it's important to remember that potential employers are looking at your accounts, too," Express CEO Bill Stoller said. "Take the time now to clean up your online presence to avoid the heartache later of losing out on the job."

    Survey Methodology

    The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between April 21 and May 6, 2020, among 1,005 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed or have been laid off, furloughed, or given a zero hour schedule in the past 60 days but worked full-time or were self-employed full-time prior, work at companies with more than 1 employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

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    If you would like to arrange for an interview with one of our Specialists, call (555) 555-5555.

    About Express Employment Professionals

    If you need additional help in starting on a new career path in these unprecedented times, contact Express Employment Professionals - Eugene, Oregon. We're in the business of people. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit www.expresspros.com/EugeneOR/ .

    The Eugene Express office is located at 945 Garfield St. Eugene, OR 97402 and serves the list all areas your office services. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to stop by, visit www.expresspros.com/EugeneOR/ or call (541) 686-0001 .