Social Media Background Checks Relevant or Not?

Taking a look at a person's tweets, Facebook posts, LinkedIn profile, and other social media activity may be helpful in identifying job-relevant behavior that other background checks cannot. ... And such information may be particularly important to specific industries or jobs.

1. Do background checks check social media?
2. How far back can a social media background check go?
3. Do employers really check social media?
4. Why employers should not check social media?
5. What shows up on a social media background check?
6. How strict are background checks?
7. Can employers see deleted social media accounts?
8. Do hiring managers look at social media?
9. What is an Internet background check?
10. Can you get a job without social media?
11. Is it legal to use social media in the hiring process?
12. Does HR look at Facebook?

Do background checks check social media?

A social media background check is when employers review a job candidate's social media profiles during the hiring process. ... You should only conduct social media background checks toward the end of the hiring process, and you should keep several best practices in mind.

How far back can a social media background check go?

When we find adverse information on an applicant when viewing their social media profiles, we can only go back 7 years. This is similar to how we conduct criminal background checks and finding adverse information.

Do employers really check social media?

It's completely legal for employers to check public social media platforms, but checking anything beyond public accounts is a gray area. ... Since it's legal for employers to check public social media accounts, consider making personal accounts private.

Why employers should not check social media?

Employers Risk Lawsuits If They Don't Conduct a Legal Social Media Background Check. This is the single most important reason employers shouldn't run social media screens on their own. When done improperly, a social media background check can put your organization at risk for lawsuits.

What shows up on a social media background check?

In recent years, more employers have started conducting "social media background checks.” Where most background check processes focus on criminal history, educational credentials, or past work history, social media background checks focus on what a candidate does online. ...

How strict are background checks?

California law follows the FCRA's general seven-year rule as the limit for reporting most negative information on an employment background check. In California, criminal convictions can only be reported for seven years unless another law requires employers to look deeper into your background.

Can employers see deleted social media accounts?

If they want, they can probably see the posts you have deleted. But it will take at least some effort + investment on their part. And I believe not a lot of employers will be willing to do that unless: They are really doubtful about you.

Do hiring managers look at social media?

According to a survey by CareerBuilder, a full 70 percent of employers "use social media to screen candidates before hiring."

What is an Internet background check?

It's common for employers to carry out some form of background check in relation to job applicants, and these checks range from full financial and criminal-records screening to simply checking where you worked before. In terms of your internet history, employers can look at anything that you've posted publicly online.

Can you get a job without social media?

Yes, employers will likely to reject you if: You're applying for a Social Media Manager's profile, and have no presence on social media. You're applying for a Technical Blogger's position, and have not published any article.

Is it legal to use social media in the hiring process?

Is social media screening legal? The short answer: Yes, BUT it has to be done correctly. If you're tasked with making hiring decisions and you decide to look at an applicant's social media activity on your own, you're opening yourself up to potential problems (such as discrimination lawsuits).

Does HR look at Facebook?

Employers can and do check out potential employees' Facebook profiles if they can get access to them. Some 56 percent of employers said they were likely to look at the social media presence of potential employees before hiring them, according to a study from British business psychology firm OPP.