One in five hiring managers (22%) say they use social-networking sites to research job candidates, up from 11% in 2006 - and an additional 9% say they plan to start doing so - according to a CareerBuilder.com nationwide survey of some 3,100 employers.

Of those hiring managers who have screened job candidates via social-networking profiles, one-third (34%) report that they found content that caused them to dismiss the candidate from consideration.

Top areas for concern among those hiring managers included the following:

• 41% - candidate posted information about their drinking or using drugs
• 40% - candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information
• 29% - candidate had poor communication skills
• 28% - candidate bad-mouthed previous company or fellow employee
• 27% - candidate lied about qualifications
• 22% - candidate used discriminatory remarks related to race, gender, religion, etc.
• 22% - candidate’s screen name was unprofessional
• 21% - candidate was linked to criminal behavior
• 19% - candidate shared confidential information from previous employers

On the other hand, social-networking profiles gave some job seekers an edge over the competition: 24% of hiring managers who researched job candidates via social-networking sites say they found content that helped to solidify their decision to hire the candidate.

Top factors that influenced those hiring decisions included the following:

• 48% - candidate’s background supported qualifications for the job
• 43% - candidate had great communication skills
• 40% - candidate was a good fit for the company’s culture
• 36% - candidate’s site conveyed a professional image
• 31% - candidate had great references posted about them by others
• 30% - candidate showed a wide range of interests
• 29% - candidate received awards and accolades
• 24% - candidate’s profile was creative

“Hiring managers are using the internet to get a more well-rounded view of job candidates in terms of their skills, accomplishments and overall fit within the company,” said Rosemary Haefner, VP of human resources at CareerBuilder.com. “As a result, more job seekers are taking action to make their social networking profiles employer-friendly.”

About 16% of workers who have social-networking profiles say they have modified their content in an effort to convey a more professional image to potential employers, she said.

About the study: The survey was conducted online within the US by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 3,169 hiring managers and human resource professionals (employed full-time, not self-employed, with at least significant involvement in hiring decisions) and 8,785 employees (employed full-time, not self-employed) age 18 and over between May 22 and June 13, 2008.