Australian employer perceptions of unprofessional social media behaviour and its impact on graduate employability

Karen E Sutherland; Karen Freberg; Christina Driver

doi:10.21153/jtlge2019vol10no2art857

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Australian employer perceptions of unprofessional social media behaviour and its impact on graduate employability

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Australian employer perceptions of unprofessional social media behaviour and its impact on graduate employability

Karen E Sutherland, Karen Freberg and Christina Driver

Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, Vol.10(2), pp.104-121

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2019vol10no2art857

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

Curriculum and Pedagogy

social media

job-recruitment

employability

professional behaviour

employment

personal branding

General mental health and psychology

Thompson Institute Special Collection

Social media has become a tool used for the process of employee recruitment in a range of industries. The technology is utilised by job candidates and by employers and job-recruiters to screen and source suitable staff for their organisations. Research has investigated issues relating to ethics, privacy and accuracy regarding employers' use of social media to screen prospective employees. Yet, limited research has been conducted to investigate employer perceptions of prospective/current employees' unprofessional social media behavior. Our study involved a survey of 396 Australian employers from a range of industries to explore the influence of job-candidates' social media presence on employer decision-making and the most unprofessional social media behaviors according to employers. Our investigation found 82% of employers are influenced by a job candidate's social media presence and using social media to intentionally cause harm to others was perceived by employers as the most unprofessional social media behavior. The findings from this study will assist educators in guiding university students and graduates to meet industry expectations as professionals and provide scholars with new knowledge as to what is deemed to be unacceptable behavior in a professional context at this point in the evolution of social media.

Details

Title: Australian employer perceptions of unprofessional social media behaviour and its impact on graduate employability
Authors: Karen E Sutherland (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Karen Freberg (Author) - University of Louisville, United States
Christina Driver (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, Vol.10(2), pp.104-121
Publisher: Deakin University
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.21153/jtlge2019vol10no2art857
ISSN: 1838-3815; 1838-3815
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450966802621
Output Type: Journal article
Research Statement: false

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