A survey by Career Builder found that 51 percent of employers who research job applicants on social media end up rejecting them, up from 43 percent in last year's survey and 34 percent in 2012.

So what are employers finding on social media that’s prompting them to eliminate candidates from consideration? The most common reasons to pass on a candidate included:

· Job candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information – 46 percent

· Job candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs – 41 percent

· Job candidates bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employee – 36 percent

· Job candidate had poor communication skills – 32 percent

· Job candidate had discriminatory comments related to race, gender, religion and so on – 28 percent

· Job candidate lied about qualifications – 25 percent

· Job candidate shared confidential information from previous employers – 24 percent

· Job candidate was linked to criminal behavior – 22 percent

· Job candidate’s screen name was unprofessional – 21 percent

· Job candidate lied about an absence – 13 percent

However, one third (33 percent) of employers who research candidates on social networking sites say they’ve found content that made them more likely to hire a candidate. What’s more, nearly a quarter (23 percent) found content that directly led to them hiring the candidate, up from 19 percent last year.