Many managers are using Facebook and other social media outlets to understand more about a particular person's candidacy for a position at their company. Much has been written to warn potential candidates of what information they provide on social networks, i.e, excessive drinking or being pictured in less-than-professional situations. But because of the tight restrictions of what can be asked of a job candidate (marital status, religion and age), managers who find out this information on social networks may prove to be inadvertently illegal. What if, for example, the interviewer uses the knowledge they garnered from a candidates Facebook to make a determination of an individual's candidacy based on their marital status, religion or age?

Whereas Facebook may allow managers to protect themselves from hiring undesirable candidates, is it really the best tool to use from a legal perspective?

Social media brings new corporate rules