Microsoft has apparently been conducting polls concerning how often employers look to search engines or social networking profiles for information on their prospective employees. The numbers are shocking, too, it appears that far more employers use this method to research their candidates than is traditionally recognized. It makes sense, why wouldn’t you Google your prospective employees? If you find a picture of them acting inappropriately through a simply search, it is likely their behavior does not fit in with what you expect of them as an employer.

The survey was conducted in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France. Outside the U.S., the impact of online information on hiring appears to be less significant. In the U.K., 41% of responding recruiters and HR professionals said they’d rejected candidates following the discovery of negative online information. In Germany and France, the rates were 16% and 14% respectively.

One reason for the disparity may be that 75% of recruiters and HR personnel in the U.S. report that their companies have formal policies requiring them to research job applicants online. In the U.K., only 48% of recruiting and HR respondents said their companies had policies of this sort. And in Germany and France, that number is 21%.

If these numbers seem high, then it should serve as a warning to be careful about social networking. Or, if the damage has been done, to utilize web reputation management.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222600171