By now, we all know how social media can help you land a job. These days, your online identity has never been more critical to your job search, but can all of this Internet exposure be hurting your chances at gaining employment?
Popular social media and networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn have helped many job seekers project a creative, web-savvy, and professional image. It’s not uncommon for potential (and current) employers to keep tabs on their employees through these sites; in fact, it’s becoming increasingly uncommon for employers not to keep tabs on their workers through social media. If you post something online, whether it’s a status update, picture, or blog entry, it becomes nearly impossible to take it back. This recent New York Times article explores the idea of ‘forgetting’ our online pasts and how it’s impacting our offline futures. Other recent events, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s comments that “young people” will have to change their names upon entering adulthood to escape their cyber pasts, have raised many questions about privacy. When it comes to jobseekers, here are some things to keep in mind before you request that name change:
Do not post anything negative or inflammatory about your workplace, co-workers, or management on social media sites. Regardless of your company’s size, someone will inevitably stumble upon your message or picture and you could be reprimanded and even fired, depending on your employer’s social media policies. Here are some examples of athletes who shared too much information on Twitter and the resulting consequences.
Remember that no matter how private you think your settings are on social media sites, your online identity is not secure. If, like many users, you’re fed up with Facebook and wish to delete your account (“delete account” is the most commonly searched term in the Facebook Help Center, and a top ten auto-complete search term in Google when searching “how to.”), it’s important to note that Facebook stores your information for up to 14 days before it is permanently deleted. Deactivating your profile allows you to indefinitely suspend your account in case you wish to return to the site; and while no other users can access your profile, your information remains available to applications and advertisers. Most users don’t realize the difference between “deactivating” and “deleting” their accounts, since Facebook conveniently makes deactivation the default option for removing your presence from the site.
Even with all the privacy measures available, online histories are virtually impossible to escape. With all the social media sharing on just about every website, your Facebook and Twitter profiles leave a trail every time you ‘Like’ a site, leave a comment on a message board, or share a post onyour blog. What does this mean for job seekers? Be very careful about what you say and where you say it. If you wouldn’t say something in front of your past, present, or future boss, you shouldn’t be saying it in the digital space either; more likely than not, your comments will be uncovered and you will have to deal with the consequences. If you think this advice borders on paranoia, check out these examples of employees losing their jobs because of Facebook faux pas
I recently came across an article about the pros and cons of befriending your boss on Facebook. While I personally think it is wise to befriend your boss and coworkers on social media sites (caveat: my boss doesn’t have a Facebook account), it could very well be a recipe for disaster. There have been countless stories of employees calling in sick or requesting leave for family emergencies, only to post status updates saying that they’re playing hooky. The solution to getting caught in the crossfire of a lie and losing your job? Don’t lie! It’s that simple.
Another good idea is to run a search on yourself from time to time. Most hiring managers/HR personnel run to Google and look up applicants for any glaring red flags. Do you know what information is available about you? Run a search and see what other people can find out about just by typing your name. Checking up on your online presence will better help you remove any unwanted and unflattering information that may keep you from getting hired.
There is no doubt that social media plays a major role in our lives today, for better and for worse. If you’re looking to be successful in your professional career, keep in mind that your online presence affects your offline reputation.
Melody Yaghoubi
Interactive Resources
