While social media has garnered attention as an effective and inexpensive marketing, business development and customer service tool, employers and workers may not yet be ready to adopt this technology for recruitment.

According to a report by recruiter Robert Half, 52% of chief financial officers surveyed said their company has not used any social media in the recruitment process.

Of the social media outlets used, 'industry/professional networks' was the most popular response among 27% of executives, followed by LinkedIn at 17%.

When employees were asked what social media they have used in conducting a job search, nearly half (49%) said they have not used any channels, suggesting there remains a general apprehension on the part of both employers and candidates. But nearly one in five (18%) have not conducted a job search since social media has become popular.

Phil Sheridan, MD of Robert Half UK, said: "While LinkedIn and other social networking sites have allowed individuals to raise their profile and connect with other professionals, businesses and workers are still cautious about using this technology for recruitment.

"When devising a recruitment strategy, most companies continue to embrace a more traditional approach, including the use of online job boards, employee referrals and recruitment consultancies. It seems most employers still believe this to be the most effective approach for screening candidates and assessing competencies.

"It is still important for workers and businesses to manage their online reputation by ensuring their profiles remain current and professional. Posting newsworthy articles, participating in relevant discussion groups and conducting periodic online audits will help raise both personal and corporate brand images."