Use Facebook to check out potential employees, bosses told

25/01/08 15:08

Employers are being advised to utilise social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and Myspace to vet new employees, according to research.

“The sites are an unparalleled insight into employee attitudes,” said Yngve Traberg, chief executive of Clickajob. “Information is free, gratis, and handed to us on a plate.”

He added: “Frankly, any employer who does not Google new employees, or search for their profile on Myspace, Facebook and the other popular sites, is just not screening their staff properly.”

However, employers remain divided over the benefits of social networking sites use in the workplace.

According to Infosecurity Europe event director Claire Sellick, many IT directors are not keen on the sites, while a survey from Online Recruitment found that HR managers were found to be in favour.

David Hobson, managing director of Global Security Systems (GSS) commented: “Social networking sites are now integral to the way that many of the latest and youngest recruits into the workforce communicate and work, so for some sectors social networking sites may have a part to play in terms of competitive advantage or used for research or as a marketing tool."

Traberg called social networking sites a “social phenomenon… as much a part of life as texting, pop music and fast food.”

He advised: “We can no more prevent them than we can prevent gravity. So we might as well get used to using them effectively.”