Dealers are increasingly looking at social media when making recruitment decisions about potential employees.

Employers are primarily looking up candidates on LinkedIn and Facebook, but will also use Twitter and undertake general internet searches.

Jobco-op director Derek Webb said: “This is something that has been happening for a while, but over the last year has moved very much closer to almost becoming the norm.

“Rightly or wrongly, potential employers feel the kind of social media information available about a candidate online provides an indication of their personality that the formal recruitment process doesn’t usually deliver.”

Webb said that, for this reason, individuals should be careful about the information that they post online.

“Few potential employers expect to recruit people who live saintly lives but, even if you have only had a bit too much to drink once in the last five years, pictures of that time posted on Facebook almost invariably create the wrong impression.

“If you are serious about projecting a professional image, you should think carefully about any information about yourself that is easily accessible through a quick Google search.”