Contractors should resist the temptation to gripe online

Millions of people go on Facebook every day and it is not uncommon to read status updates from friends complaining about something. People frequently moan about the weather, their boss and the service they receive from banks, call centres and online retailers.

However, after surveying 1,000 job seekers, the IT recruiter says griping could limit your chances of securing a position. Employers now routinely check social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to get a better insight into the personality of job applicants.

In days gone by, all you needed to provide was a CV and a couple of references and providing they passed muster, and you didn't flunk the interview, the job was yours. But the Internet has changed all that and businesses are able to discover a lot more about potential hires at the touch of a button.

20% of those aged between 18 and 24 said they regularly posted a status update complaining, or griped in a forum, in an impolite way. The Welsh appear to be most prone to this activity, with 17% of job seekers regularly complaining online compared to only 5% of candidates from the South East of England.

Sid Barnes, executive director at Computer People, said candidates need to be aware that an off-the-cuff complaint can damage their professional reputation. Whilst social media sites do have privacy settings, it's always possible that a complaint on other sites could slip through the net.

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