Effect of perceptions of profile images on hireability

Information readily available via social networking sites (SNS) has the potential to affect the perceptions of managers during the hiring process. The proposed study seeks to determine if the perceptions of profile images, such as those available on SNS, can predict measures of hireability. A preliminary study revealed a significant halo effect for attractiveness, such that those rated as more attractive were rated highly on other measures correlating with hireability (i.e., trustworthiness, dependability, and conscientiousness). There was also a significant positive relationship between the perceptions of femininity in women and ratings of hireability and attractiveness. However, this effect did not hold for the men. While the results of this preliminary study are an important first step in understanding how profile pictures on SNS relate to employment decisions, they are correlational in nature and experimental evidence to demonstrate causation is needed