Protect your company from a bad hire. Social media screening is an important step in the hiring process, and it's also a great way to learn about a candidate before you make a commitment.

Why Social Media Screening is Important

In today's world, social media is an important part of many people's lives. It's a way to stay connected with friends and family, share news and experiences, and express yourself. But did you know that social media can also be a valuable tool in background checks?

That's right - more and more employers are using social media to screen candidates for open positions. This is especially true for positions that involve interaction with the public. For example, a company looking to hire someone for a sales position may run a social media check to see if the candidate has questionable or unlawful behavior in his/her past. While some people believe this type of screening is an invasion of privacy, others are in favor of it because it helps employers make better hiring decisions.

What to Look For

When it comes to social media screening in background checks, there are a few key things to look for. First, you'll want to check for any red flags that might indicate a candidate is not a good fit for your company. This includes things like posts that are derogatory or offensive, references to illegal activity, and so on. If you see any of these red flags, it's best to move on to another candidate.

Next, you'll want to take a look at the overall tone of the candidate's online presence. Are they generally positive and upbeat, or do they tend to be negative and critical? While it's important to have employees who can voice constructive criticism, you'll likely want to avoid hiring someone whose default setting is negativity.

Finally, you'll want to pay attention to the candidate's online activity level. Do they regularly post updates and interact with others, or do they keep their profile relatively inactive? An active online presence can be a good indicator that the candidate is comfortable with social media and engaging with others - both qualities that can be beneficial in many roles within your company.

How Social Media Screening Works

When you opt to use CIC's social media screening as part of your background check process, here's how it works:

First, a social media CRA will collect all of the publicly available information from top social media platforms, websites, and online databases. This will usually include things like profile content, posts, comments, and associations.

Next, a team of expert analysts will comb through this data to look for any red flags that could indicate a problem. This could be anything from something as innocuous as poor language to more serious issues like drug use or violence.

Finally, a report detailing the findings will be compiled and sent to you so that you can make an informed decision about the candidate in question.

Why You Should Consider Adding Social Media Screening In Your Background Checks

Social media screening in background checks is becoming more and more common. And for good reason. With the amount of information that is now available online, it makes sense to check a person's social media accounts as part of the background check process.

There are a few things to keep in mind when doing social media screening. First, you need to make sure you have a consistent policy for everyone who is being screened. You also need to be aware of the potential for discrimination. And finally, you need to make sure you are not violating any laws or agreements you have with social media companies.

Here are a few reasons why social media screening can be beneficial for your company:

1. It can help you avoid hiring someone with a history of bad behavior. 2. It can help you identify potential red flags that might not be apparent on a resume or in an interview. 3. It can help you verify information that a candidate has provided about their qualifications and experience. 4. It can give you insights into a candidate's personal interests and values, which can be helpful in determining whether they will be a good fit for your company culture.

Maintaining Compliance

As the use of social media in hiring continues to grow, so does the compliance risk for employers. Social media screening can uncover protected information such as an applicant's race, religion, and other protected characteristics. This information could be used to unlawfully discriminate against an applicant during the hiring process.

To avoid potential compliance risks, employers should consider implementing a social media policy that includes guidelines for reviewing applicants' social media profiles. The policy should make clear that the company will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any protected characteristic. In addition, the policy should state that applicants' social media profiles will be treated as confidential information and will only be accessed by authorized personnel.

By taking these precautions, employers can help ensure that their social media screening practices are compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

CIC's Social Media Search is Thorough and Compliant

We provide a social media screening service that uses AI and FCRA-trained human analysts to focus on problematic online behavior. Because we use the only social media CRA reviewed by the FTC, you can trust that our product is scored as reliable.

You'll never have to worry about biased or discriminatory hiring practices again. Our Protected Class Safety™ redacts any information about your employees' protected class in the final hiring report.

Maintain your company’s good reputation by screening potential employees through our Social Media Search. Download the CIC flyer to learn more, or for more information about social media screening, schedule a time to meet.

For more information about this article, or general Employment Screening Services, please contact us at 1.800.573.2201 / 419.874.2201.