11.1% of Employers Use MySpace, Facebook and Other Social Networking Sites as Part of Their Background Checking Process

Warning to the college Class of 2007: If you’ve got a profile on a social networking site such as MySpace or Facebook, be prepared for potential employers to view it, according to a new study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

More than one in 10 employers (11.1 percent) responding to NACE’s recent Job Outlook 2007 Fall Preview survey reported plans to review profiles on social networking when considering candidates for jobs.
Moreover, profile information may have at least some effect on an employer’s hiring decisions: More than 60 percent of employers who review social networking sites said the information gleaned there has at least some influence on their hiring decisions.
“These results confirm that students need to be thoughtful about the information they post on social networking sites,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. “Although nearly half of respondents said they don’t intend to look at information posted on social networking sites, more than 10 percent do, and more than 40 percent are undecided about whether or not to use this practice.”
The Job Outlook 2007 Fall Preview study also found that employers expect to increase the number of new college graduates they hire in 2006-07 by more than 17 percent. (See “College Hiring Expected to Increase 17.4 Percent” .)
“The good news for the upcoming graduating class is that the job market looks good,” says Mackes. “However, that’s no guarantee that finding a job will be easy. Students need to put their best foot forward with potential employers; that includes making sure that any online information they have made public casts them in a positive light.”