LinkedIn a hotbed of profile porkies, research claims
Recruitment specialist's figures show more than 80 per cent of finance directors question accuracy of potential candidates' profiles
More than 80 per cent of the 200 UK finance directors questioned by recruitment specialist Robert Half do not trust the accuracy of potential job applicants’ LinkedIn profiles.
When questioned, 68 per cent said they found the information sometimes reliable, and a further 14 per cent found it never reliable.
When researching potential recruits, 65 per cent of finance directors picked experience as the most looked-at quality. The next most viewed element was references, which polled 38 per cent of the vote, and third was education background, garnering 37 per cent of votes.
Other points looked at were recommendations (31 per cent), updated information (30 per cent) and endorsed skills (29 per cent).
The main reasons for this lack of trust, the research claimed, was that four in 10 respondents (39 per cent) were concerned about the opportunity job seekers have to exaggerate experience and skills; 37 per cent highlighted a lack of systems/procedures to qualify information and 15 per cent pointed to the anonymity of social media.
Phil Sheridan, managing director of Robert Half UK, said: “With more than 10 million people in the UK currently using LinkedIn, it is important for professionals to keep their networks informed, whether they are using the site for recruitment purposes or as a general networking tool.
“However, with the majority of hiring managers questioning the trustworthiness and accuracy of LinkedIn profiles, candidates should manage their online reputation by ensuring their profiles remain complete and updated with the appropriate information.
“Despite the popularity of LinkedIn, hiring managers still prefer more traditional recruitment methods, such as employee referrals and recruitment consultancies. It seems most employers still believe this to be the most effective approach for screening candidates and assessing competencies.”