The JobSync Blog
When Recruiting, a Company's Online Reputation Matters, Too
February 7, 2012
When Facebook announced that it was going to impose its new “Timeline” feature on its users, millions scrambled to remove embarrassing or incriminating photos and posts from their accounts. And they did it for a simple reason. The implementation of Timeline would give a complete history of every Facebook user’s photos and posts over the years and make them easier for others to access. For jobseekers aware of the damaging access afforded by social media sites like Facebook, they had to act quickly before their Timelines became fixed under Facebook’s seven-day grace period.
This event is a reminder that companies also need to be aware of their online reputations. While most companies deploy responsible, thoughtful messaging on social media, they also need to stay abreast of other online outlets that can undermine their brand. Ultimately, such damage can undermine their recruiting efforts.
Several outlets have recently reported the results of a survey conducted by the Corporate Executive Board that quantifies the damage this can do to recruiting. The organization’s poll of 4,000 jobseekers looking for work over the last 12 months revealed that 66% indicated that they lost interest in an employer because of something they learned online.
While competition among jobseekers for jobs remains fierce, competition among companies for a limited pool of top talent also remains robust. Employers can ill afford to let their online reputations compromise their recruiting efforts, as losing out on key talent can impact their bottom line for years. Fortunately for companies, there are many resources to ensure that their online presence doesn’t hinder their ability to attract the best talent, from consulting companies to Google Alerts.
And unlike Facebook, none of them give you only seven days to clean up your act.
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