The increasing penetration of social media provides as many opportunities for recruiters, as it does risks for job seekers.

As outlined on The Post and Courier, many recruiters are referring to the social media channels of applicants to gain a, “glimpse of a person’s personality, their interests, community involvement and how they conduct themselves overall.”  Some recruiters also use platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to source applicants they may not have reached through traditional media.

With recruitment turning to the online environment, aspirational job seekers are becoming worried that their online record may impact their chances.  “Almost one in five people surveyed in the U.S. are going online to find jobs, but many are nervous about potential fallout from personal content on social networking sites, according to a 2011 survey by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services.”

Social media presents opportunities and risks across a range of business functions.  The impact of the generational shift in privacy standards that has accompanied the evolution of social media will be experienced by job seekers, as well as their recruiters, for decades to come.