45% of Employers Screen Job Candidates Online

By Joshua Waldman · Jan 5, 2016 · 1-minute read

Daily issue

There is no doubt that social media is changing the way we are communicating.

Polls, published on FastCompany put this trend into perspective for Job Seekers. Thank you CareerBuilder.com for running the surveys:

• 45% of employers check social networks before hiring
• 11% plan to use social networking sites for screening in the near future
• 35% of companies had rejected a candidate based on information from a social-network profile
• 14% rejected a candidate for using an emoticon 😉

Here is a summary of why companies DID hire people based on their social media profiles:

• 50% chose a candidate because the profile communicated a “good fit” and personality
• 39% based on professional qualifications
• 39% based on the creativity of the candidate

Lesson: Clean up your dirt online, keep it real, be creative.

[et_bloom_inline optin_id=”optin_4″]

Joshua Waldman

Joshua Waldman wrote Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies after being laid off twice in six months (2008–2009). He’s changed careers five times and learned firsthand that technology is the job seeker’s biggest advantage. At CareerEnlightenment he shares what actually works.

More on social media job seeking

Jun 11, 2026

45% of Employers Screen Job Candidates Online: How to Prepare in 2026

Nearly 70% of employers now screen job candidates on social media. Learn which platforms get checked, what disqualifies applicants, and how to clean up your digital footprint.

Jun 1, 2026

Tech Tools to Take Your Job Search to the Next Level (2026)

Let’s be honest — a modern job search can feel like a full-time job in itself. Between tailoring resumes for every application, writing custom…

May 31, 2026

Why Direct Job Applications Are Making a Comeback in 2026 (And How to Do Them Right)

Why Direct Job Applications Are Making a Comeback in 2026 (And How to Do Them Right) If you’ve been job hunting in 2026, you’ve…