Your online activity may be costing you a job.

Morglin

wapow wrote: »

Do not assume that you wont be googled or checked out on social sites like facebook/twitter.


The top areas of concern found on social networking sites include:

• Information about alcohol or drug use (41% of managers said this was a top concern)
• Inappropriate photos or information posted on a candidate's page (40%)
• Poor communication skills (29%)
• Bad-mouthing of former employers or fellow employees (28%)
• Inaccurate qualifications (27%)
• Unprofessional screen names (22%)
• Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%)
• Confidential information about past employers (19%)

If you've been unsuccessful after interviews and only after reading this thread you've had a thought about your facebook/twitter and the content you publish may fit in to one or more of the above, then maybe, you are not meant for the working world.

In America, where my DIL comes from, they all have two of any social networking sites, unlinked to each other, simply because prospective and current employers do trawl through them.

One is under their real name, is only ever sensible, and involves family stuff etc.,

The other is under a pseudonym, which workmates are not part of, and where other things can be discussed.

Lin

getmore4less

Morglin wrote: »

In America, where my DIL comes from, they all have two of any social networking sites, unlinked to each other, simply because prospective and current employers do trawl through them.

One is under their real name, is only ever sensible, and involves family stuff etc.,

The other is under a pseudonym, which workmates are not part of, and where other things can be discussed.

Lin

You need one identity for each separate social group you belong to and avoid cross contamination.

Same for your anon presence, use multiple name and use names that others use on other sites to create some chaotic mixes.

DCFC79

TonyMMM wrote: »

Post whatever you like - but always be aware that it may be seen by others, and be used to form an opinion about you.

Exactly, I remember the stories I heard in the new a couple of years ago about staff posting stuff on facebook and the next day finding they have no job, was laughable really.

J_i_m

RuthnJasper wrote: »

For example...:-

Well that was obviously a monumentally stupid thing to do, and a clear case of gross misconduct. It should have come as no surprise that there would be consequences.

Mind you, it wasn't exactly a professional (if albeit understandable) response from the boss either. What he should have done is to take a screen shot and call her in for a disciplinary meeting at work. I seriously doubt that it's any companies procedure to respond publicly to Facebook posts in this way and actually carry out the disciplinary and dismissal on Facebook itself

I maintain, that if you use these things responsibly then they aren't quite the horror story the thread title makes it out to be.

RuthnJasper

J_i_m wrote: »

Well that was obviously a monumentally stupid thing to do, and a clear case of gross misconduct. It should have come as no surprise that there would be consequences.

Mind you, it wasn't exactly a professional (if albeit understandable) response from the boss either. What he should have done is to take a screen shot and call her in for a disciplinary meeting at work. I seriously doubt that it's any companies procedure to respond publicly to Facebook posts in this way and actually carry out the disciplinary and dismissal on Facebook itself

I maintain, that if you use these things responsibly then they aren't quite the horror story the thread title makes it out to be.

Fair point - and I do agree. This was passed to me in the relatively early days of such happen-stances; a lot has transpired since then and employers (as well as sensible employees, potential or otherwise) are more attuned to this than in those, more naive, days.

My personal rule of thumb has always been "don't post online anything that you wouldn't be happy to write on the back of a postcard and send through the postal service - or anything that you wouldn't be willing to say to a person face-to-face". And that's true - I have never, ever, written anything online or said anything in written publications or spoken broadcasts that I wouldn't be willing to clarify, accepting - where appropriate - that I could have been mistaken or previously ignorant and (in those instances) apologising for my former errors of judgement.

The problem, as I see it, of the online community is that of anonymity, rather than occasional imprudence utilised by potential employers. It shields bullies, slanderers and outright abusers from the glare of open and fair parity and offers them an outlet with which to inflict real harm and lasting damage with impunity and no fear of exposure or call to justify their statements. That, to me, is FAR more dangerous than employers going online to "sort the wheat from the chaff" among job applicants.

But what do I know?! I'm writing online right now, so I could be an ignorant flaming troll anyway...

Flyonthewall

RuthnJasper wrote: »

The problem, as I see it, of the online community is that of anonymity, rather than occasional imprudence utilised by potential employers. It shields bullies, slanderers and outright abusers from the glare of open and fair parity and offers them an outlet with which to inflict real harm and lasting damage with impunity and no fear of exposure or call to justify their statements. That, to me, is FAR more dangerous than employers going online to "sort the wheat from the chaff" among job applicants.

It shields people to a point. However, there are ways of tracking those people if needed (IP address and computer search) and they can be blocked from sites (including IP banning someone).

When it comes to an employer you don't know what they're looking at. The wrong profile. A photo a friend took that you don't even know about. A 30 year old photo of you doing one silly thing, perhaps a photo you were only tagged in and didn't put up yourself. Perhaps you holding a cat and looking happy and it turns out the employer hates cats.

That could stop you getting a job, maybe even a dream job, and that effects your whole life.

If someone is abusing or bullying you online you can report them, you can block them yourself or ignore them, remove them from your friends list or whatever. You have some control over the situation.

You may not think to remove the picture of you with a cat. You can't control what they're looking at other than by setting everything to private and hoping they don't find a way to see it and even then you can't be sure they'll look at the right profile anyway or what they think to a hidden profile.

DCFC79

The latest video is of a guy claiming to have found a quickest way to work by following an ambulance and the guy in the video ha snow lost his job all because he uploaded it, it just beggars belief why people would do that.

J_i_m

DCFC79 wrote: »

The latest video is of a guy claiming to have found a quickest way to work by following an ambulance and the guy in the video ha snow lost his job all because he uploaded it, it just beggars belief why people would do that.

Well presumably to chase an ambulance they had to break the speed limit somewhat, and possibly even jump some red lights? Which in itself is monumental irresponsibility, but to then upload a video of it on social networking is sheer lunacy. Did they expect their boss to post "LOL" in the comments section?

It reminds me of an old video of a guy driving his Ferrari on the motorway, he was driving as though on some kind of race course, with an inset showing the speedometer needle firmly in the upper range. He uploaded to YouTube or something and got all surprised when the Police decided to do something about it.

But again, these are examples of people's behaviour and publicising that behaviour getting them into trouble. It's not the social network's fault. It's all their own.

DCFC79

J_i_m wrote: »

Well presumably to chase an ambulance they had to break the speed limit somewhat, and possibly even jump some red lights? Which in itself is monumental irresponsibility, but to then upload a video of it on social networking is sheer lunacy. Did they expect their boss to post "LOL" in the comments section?

It reminds me of an old video of a guy driving his Ferrari on the motorway, he was driving as though on some kind of race course, with an inset showing the speedometer needle firmly in the upper range. He uploaded to YouTube or something and got all surprised when the Police decided to do something about it.

But again, these are examples of people's behaviour and publicising that behaviour getting them into trouble. It's not the social network's fault. It's all their own.

Thats my point, people just dont think before they upload a video to Youtube or post a status on Facebook.

BrixtonImp

Businesses in the public eye are the highest risk for stuff like this. Most of them even include use of social media in their business conduct policies. I just keep all of my profiles private and only add people I know