For most people, personal indiscretions-such as having an extramarital affair or abusing drugs-are a private matter. But for CEOs, even scandals unrelated to business create doubt about their judgment, integrity, and leadership. The result is usually career-ending for the CEO, research shows, and can create lasting harm for the company. We found that CEOs overwhelmingly exit in the wake of personal scandals-five times as often as CEOs who commit financial misconduct do, in fact. And strong business performance doesn't tend to offer protection.
You've spent hours updating your résumé, nailed the interview phase and thought the offer was locked in. Then the silence hits. Here's the thing - the reason may have nothing to do with your skill set - and everything to do with your social media. Employers are no longer just glancing at applications; they're dissecting digital lives. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers screen candidates' social media before hiring, and more than half have rejected applicants based on what they found.