Beyond resumes and interviews, the omnipresent nature of social media has opened a new window into a candidate’s character and behavior. That’s why HR departments are throwing money at social media background checks. If you’re wondering if social media background checks are worth the HR budget, continue reading to learn more.
Social Media Background Checks: What’s Happening?
Social media background checks have gone from being “nice to have” to being “part of the hiring process.” The increase in the number of service providers like Triton Canada shows how in demand these services are.
Hiring is not just about eliminating bad candidates but also about making better informed decisions. In a competitive job market, companies are looking for candidates whose values align with their goals. A search on social media can help find people who show and promote positive behaviors, including volunteering, professional networking and leadership.
With AI on the rise, background checks on social media are even more effective. Some AI tools can scan through a lot of data and bring out patterns of behavior that HR teams might miss. This saves time and cost, making it easier for the business to manage their budget.
Think about how AI tools can automatically find harmful content like drug related images, hate speech, or violent language on multiple platforms in seconds. That speed and accuracy is especially helpful for businesses that have a large number of applicants.
The Hidden Costs of Not Running Social Media Checks
Whenever any HR related expense comes across a company’s radar, the first concern that comes to mind is what the return on investment is. For social media background checks, the biggest risk is reputational damage. This could be from a hire that goes poorly, resulting in potential lawsuits or issues that add unnecessary costs.
Not checking social media backgrounds can have financial implications. As an example, you may interview someone who later gets involved in a viral scandal due to poor online behavior in the past. With proper checks, factors like hate speech, extreme opinions, drug use or angry outbursts on social media can also come to light quickly, allowing HR to take timely actions and protect the company’s reputation.
For finance, technology, and executive leadership roles where public image is tied to business performance, these checks offer an extra layer of insight. Think of an investment company in your city. If they hire a leader who has views that are unfair or unfavorable on social media, this could be a big problem for the business. By checking social media before hiring, companies can ensure their new hire shares the company’s values and minimize the risk of problems later.
Endnote
As companies are forced to compete in digital spaces, social media background checks will become even more essential. While the initial cost may seem like an added burden to the HR budget, running these checks makes a lot more sense considering how they lower various financial and reputation risks for a company.
