The validity of "cybervetting" in recruitment (i.e., screening candidates based on information obtained from their social media profiles) remains contentious. Research shows that individuals may employ a range of multifaceted impression management tactics on their social media profiles when actively applying for jobs to engender positive evaluations from recruiters (Krings et al., 2021; Roulin & Levashina, 2016). This may lead to misinformation being introduced, impacting the integrity of the recruitment decision-making process. Previous research has investigated the relationship between the Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and use of impression management on online profiles (Fox & Rooney, 2015; Petit & Carcioppolo, 2020). However, the Dark Tetrad, which includes sadism, has not received equivalent attention. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Dark Tetrad traits and the use of online impression management when seeking employment. It further aimed to determine whether distinct facets of narcissism and/or Machiavellianism better predicted the use of online impression management than their global counterparts. It was hypothesised that the Dark Tetrad traits would positively predict the use of deceptive assertive and defensive impression management and would negatively predict the use of honest assertive impression management. An English-speaking sample of working adults (N = 402; 50.0% female; Mage = 36.9, SD = 10.4) were recruited using Prolific. They completed the Short Dark Tetrad, the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire, the Two-dimensional Machiavellianism Scale, and the Facebook Impression Management Scale. All Dark Tetrad traits were positively correlated with deceptive assertive and defensive impression management, and narcissism and Machiavellianism were positively correlated with honest assertive impression management. Regression models showed that global trait narcissism predicted higher levels of honest assertive impression management and global trait psychopathy predicted higher levels of deceptive assertive impression management. Global trait Machiavellianism and sadism both failed to predict an impression management approach. Conversely, sub-facets of narcissism (admiration, grandiosity, uniqueness, rivalry, devaluation, supremacy, aggressiveness) and Machiavellianism (views, tactics) predicted all impression management approaches to varying extents. These findings highlight the importance of considering the multidimensionality of the dark traits when exploring their relationships with online impression management. They also emphasise the risks associated with cybervetting, as those high in dark traits may be actively utilising various impression management approaches on their online profile to deceive recruiters’ perceptions of their suitability. This may directly result in inappropriate recruitment decisions and negative outcomes for the organisation. Science- and practitioner-based implications are proposed.

1. Define the Dark Tetrad traits and the various impression management approaches that may be used online
2. Describe the relationship between each of the dark traits and the use of online impression management
3. Identify the implications of the dark traits and online impression management on recruitment practices, including cybervetting