With a third (30.8 percent) of recruiters admitting that they ‘stalk’ potential candidates on social media, professionals need to be savvy about what they post online. Despite this, over one in four (29.5 percent) confess that their social media profiles aren’t set to private. That’s according to the latest data from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job site.

The study of 1,100 UK workers and over 200 recruitment professionals explored attitudes towards social media and the effect it has on professionals’ employability. The survey found that two-thirds (65.7 percent) of candidates expect to be ‘Googled’ by potential employers and recruiters, with 73.4 percent stating they are more careful about what they post online. Other key findings include: Over three quarters (78.1 percent) of professionals believe that recruiters would judge them based on what they post on their social media profiles.

What’s more, over two thirds (69.3 percent) of recruiters confirmed that they are influenced by what they find online. And despite many professionals already being cautious, 63.6 percent said they are more careful about what they share when they’re actively job hunting. Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments: “Many employers and recruiters will use social media during their hiring process and it’s clear that they are influenced by what they see online. However, if you’re using social media as a screening tool, it’s important that you aren’t letting this cost you great candidates.

“Today’s professionals are becoming more aware of what they’re posting and the effect this can have on their job prospects. As such, you may not be getting an accurate impression of who your candidate is through social media alone. Screening calls and face-to-face interviews are still the best way to build a true picture of your candidate.” Furthermore, the survey sought to find out how both sides felt about posting photos online. Two thirds (61.2 percent) of recruiters said that they believe selfies are not acceptable for use on professional profiles. Interestingly, 60.6 percent of professionals also agreed that these types of photos look unprofessional, though this figure dropped to 55.6 percent amongst those aged 25-34.

Biggins concludes: “The selfie craze has taken off in recent years, but it’s clear that these should not be used for professional purposes. While these pictures might not be incriminating in any way, there are certain negative connotations that come with ‘selfies’. That said it’s positive to see that candidates are recognising the need to remain professional and create a great impression – even online!”