Numbers You Can't Ignore

Numbers You Can't Ignore

87% of Recruiters Check Candidates' Social Media

Imagine: while you're sending out your resume, 92% of employers are already researching your social networks [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2024)]. This isn't paranoia—it's the new reality of the job market, confirmed by numerous studies.

70% of employers use social networks to check candidates during the hiring process [Survey: 70% of employers check job candidates on social media (2023)] according to a 2023 CareerBuilder study. But what's most alarming isn't even that. 57% of them found content that made them reject a candidate [Survey: 70% of employers check job candidates on social media (2023)]. Think about it: more than half of those who checked social media found a reason not to hire someone.

What exactly are employers looking for? 58% want to find information confirming the candidate's qualifications, 50% check for a professional online presence, and 34% are interested in what other people write about the candidate [Survey: 70% of employers check job candidates on social media (2023)].

91% of employers use social media as part of the hiring process [An Employee's Guide to Social Media Background Checks] according to a 2023 survey. This means only 9 out of 100 companies won't look at your Instagram or LinkedIn before inviting you to an interview.

The most "dangerous" industries? IT companies lead with 74%, followed by manufacturing companies with 73% [70% of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Candidates During Hiring Process (2022)]. If you work in tech, you can be sure: your future employer is already googling your name.

70% of Job Seekers Found Work Through Social Media

While the exact number varies by generation and industry, the statistics are impressive: 73% of millennials found their current job through social media [Social Media Recruitment Stats (2024)]. This isn't just a trend—it's a fundamental shift in how people build careers.

79% of job seekers use social media in their job search process [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2023)], but what's most interesting is how effective this approach proves to be. 62% of Generation Z discovered career opportunities specifically through social networks [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2024)], while among baby boomers this figure is only 12%.

LinkedIn remains the undisputed leader: 52 million people use LinkedIn to search for jobs every week [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2025)]. The platform has become a global talent marketplace, where 8 people are hired every minute [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2025)].

But it's not just about LinkedIn. 81% of job seekers want to see career posts on Facebook [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2023)], and 35% of respondents in a 2019 Jobvite survey reported discovering new employment opportunities through social media [Social Media for Recruiters (2024)].

Most importantly: 70% of managers reported successfully hiring candidates through social media [19 Surprising Social Media Recruiting Statistics (2025)]. This means social networks aren't just an additional job search channel—they're one of the most effective ways to get hired in the modern world.

LinkedIn vs Other Platforms: Usage Statistics

LinkedIn absolutely dominates professional networking. The platform has over 950 million members in more than 200 countries and territories [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2025)], while over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates for open positions [19 Surprising Social Media Recruiting Statistics (2025)].

But other platforms also play an important role:

• Facebookholds second place: 41% of recruiters name LinkedIn as the primary social channel for finding candidates, while Facebook is used by 20%, and Twitter by 10% [40+ Social Media Recruiting Statistics (2024)]. Meanwhile, 60% of recruiters actively use Facebook to find suitable candidates [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2024)].
• Instagram and TikTokare gaining momentum: 23% of recruiting teams use TikTok [Social recruiting: statistics and trends (2024)]—a platform that's only a few years old. Instagram is used by 11% of recruiters [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2024)], especially for creative and visual professions.
• Twitter/Xremains niche: 47% of recruiters use Twitter [Social Media Recruitment Statistics (2024)], primarily in the IT sector and for finding technology and startup specialists.

An interesting trend: 74% of Generation Z use TikTok to search for information, and 51% prefer TikTok to Google [40+ Social Media Recruiting Statistics (2024)]. This is a signal that short-form video platforms may become the next frontier in recruiting.

Key takeaway: while LinkedIn remains the king of professional networking, ignoring other platforms means missing access to entire segments of talent, especially among young professionals.

The Hidden Job Market: 80% of Positions Are Never Posted on Job Sites

Forget everything you knew about job searching. Research shows that up to 70% of all job openings never appear on public job portals [The Hidden Job Market (2025)]. By various estimates, 50% to 80% of all available positions fall into the "hidden job market" category [Hidden Job Market (2024)].

Why does this happen? Employers prefer referrals and internal networks to optimize the hiring process [Hidden Job Market: Where 80% of Jobs Are Never Posted]. It's faster, cheaper, and more reliable than sifting through hundreds of resumes from job sites.

Approximately 80% of jobs are filled through networking and personal connections, not through traditional applications on job portals [Hidden Job Market (2024)]. Employee referrals account for up to 30% of all hires [Hidden Job Market (2024)], confirming that many positions are filled before the general public even learns about them.

Where are these jobs hiding? On social networks, of course. Companies fill roles through contact networks because it reduces risk [The Hidden Job Market: Why 70% of Jobs Are Never Posted (2024)]. When a hiring manager receives a referral from a trusted source, the hiring process accelerates dramatically.

This hidden market is especially common in industries like technology, finance, consulting, and top management [Hidden Job Market: Where 80% of Jobs Are Never Posted]. The higher the position, the more likely it will be filled through personal contacts rather than public posting.

The conclusion is obvious: relying only on job sites means seeing only the tip of the iceberg of career opportunities.