Social Media Screening: Beyond the Resume

In today’s digital world, a candidate’s social media activity can show a lot about their character. It can also help you see if they fit well in your company.

Social media background checks help us understand a person’s behavior and online presence. They can reveal potential issues that traditional checks might overlook. But how do you conduct these checks while staying compliant with hiring laws?

The Role of Social Media in Hiring

A candidate’s online presence can provide more insight than a resume ever could. Social media checks are now an important part of background checks. They help companies look beyond usual records, like driving history or drug tests. This can help HR teams assess a candidate’s cultural fit and uncover potential behavioral risks.

Can’t I Just Look at a Candidate’s Social Media Myself?

You must conduct social media screening carefully to avoid legal pitfalls.

Social media background checks should be done by a third-party service. This helps avoid accessing protected class information, such as race, religion, or sexual orientation. Accessing this information could lead to discrimination claims against your company.

The screening provider should look for job-related information. This includes hate speech, threats of violence, and criminal activity.

What Does Social Media Screening Flag?

Social media screening plays a crucial role in addressing workplace safety concerns by highlighting red flags that could pose risks to your company.

By examining candidates’ online presence, you can identify potential issues that may not be apparent through other screening methods.

Here are some key areas where social media screening can help:

• Racism/Intolerance: Posts or interactions that reflect racist or intolerant views can indicate a candidate’s potential to create a hostile work environment, affecting team dynamics and company culture.
• Violence: Evidence of violent behavior or threats on social media can be a serious concern, suggesting possible risks to workplace safety and the well-being of other employees.
• Potentially Illegal Activity: Social media profiles that reveal engagement in illegal activities, such as drug use or criminal behavior, can help avoid hiring individuals who may bring legal complications or security issues to your organization.

By addressing these concerns through social media screening, you can better ensure a safe and respectful work environment.