SOCIAL MEDIA ADVICE FOR EMPLOYERS

When using information from social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace to screen job candidates, here are some things to consider:

•Have a consistent approach in the use of social media for screening job candidates; use it on all candidates for a position or none.

•Do not access social networkings sites through deceitful or fraudulent means.

•Create a wall between the ultimate decisionmaker and the job screener so any legally protected information is not known by the decisionmaker.

•Consider the validity and accuracy of online data before making a decision.

•Tell all applicants in advance that the employer will be looking at social network sites as part of the review process.

MEGAN ANDERSON, GRAY PLANT MOOTY