How Online Profile Pictures Affect Recruiters’ Perceptions of Job Candidates

• In Event: Presenting the Self in Social Media

Abstract

Social media are increasingly used to screen job applicants, but the extent to which employers are affected by job applicants’ online profile pictures is not well studied. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of online profile pictures on impression of employability. 101 participants recruited from 59 organizations first evaluated either a professional or unprofessional resume. They were then shown a professional or unprofessional online profile picture after which they evaluated the job candidate again. Results showed that congruent information (that is, both a professional resume and profile picture, or a negative resume and profile picture) caused little or no change in impressions. However, in the case of incongruent information (that is, a professional resume followed an unprofessional profile picture, or an unprofessional resume followed by a professional profile picture) impressions changed in the direction of the valence of the profile picture, indicating the influence of online profile pictures.

Authors

• Alexander Peter Schouten, Tilburg U

• Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Tilburg University

• Mariek Vanden Abeele, Tilburg U

• Charlotte Van Lith, Tilburg U