Article from the ESR Newsletter and Legal Update
Recently, at a software conference for major online business connecting services, apparently the suggestion was made that profiles maintained by a candidate on such an online business service are more accurate than the resume maintained by the same candidate.
Looking at business connection sites during the recruiting or selection stage can certainly be another tool for HR or recruiting to try to differentiate a large group of candidates and whittle it down to a smaller group. Even then, there are significant issues to keep in mind, such as the potential for discrimination.
However, in terms of accuracy, keep in mind that if a person lies on a social networking site, there is no direct consequences. These sites do not contain a comment area where others can disagree, or warn employers that qualifications are overstated. In addition, colleagues may not even know that an applicant has lied. If an applicant has listed a certificate or educational accomplishment that is not true, exactly how are colleagues suppose to know that, much less bring it to anyone's attention. There certainly would be no mention made of past criminal records or civil suits for things such as harassment or trade secret theft. Those things are usually not going to be volunteered on a business connection site.
In addition, the suggestion without metrics that people do not lie on a social network site because others will view it will not likely be much of a defense in court if a firm hires a fibber, and it turns out a background check costing a few dollars would have revealed it.
The bottom line: To a certain extent, using these sites may be helpful in deciding who to hire, but it does not replace the employer's due diligence obligations. The fact remains that there is nothing as effective as actual verification of a candidate's claimed experience. The Internet may provide tools for sourcing candidates, but it simply does not provide due diligence.
For more information on the use of social network sites and employment, see ESR Social Networking Blog Entry
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