Three-quarters of graduate recruiters are concerned that accessing candidate information via Facebook and other online networks can get in the way of a “fair and measurable” recruitment process.

The findings come from from the Social Media Audit conducted by recruitment and marketing communications provider Penna Barkers.

However, the research also shows that just 5% have a clear policy on whether information accessed via such online sites can be used in selection processes.

Phill Lane, head of planning at Penna Barkers, says: “Social media is a hot topic in graduate recruitment and a substantial proportion (44%) of graduate recruiters has some kind of Facebook presence.  But very few organisations have yet created a coherent social media strategy that deals effectively with the considerable potential for overlap between student, recruiter and line management use of the same platforms.”