It probably started with someone being nosy but you may be right about looking for excuses not to hire people.
On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 6:59 AM, Kelwyn <ravena...@yahoo.com> wrote: > I had a different reaction. This article dovetails neatly with my > contention that employers look for reasons NOT to hire you rather than > looking for reasons to hire you (especially if you are of the > African-American persuasion). In other words, what you couch as a using > common sense issue, I couch as a cautionary tale. > > Further, with human resource departments as devastated as other company > payrolls (and with these employers inundated with applicants), I marvel that > those still employed have time to do google searches on potential > applicants. > > (Are there companies out there that perform these duties for harried and > understaffed human resource departments?) > > I tend to look at articles like these as attempts by the staid and > conservative minded to curve behavior they frown upon. Another attempt by > the wolves to herd the sheep. > > ~(no)rave! > I had a different reaction. This article dovetails neatly with my > contention that employers look for reasons NOT to hire you rather than > looking for reasons to hire you (especially if you are of the > African-American persuasion). In other words, what you couch as a using > common sense issue, I couch as a cautionary tale. > > Further, with human resource departments as devastated as other company > payrolls (and with these employers inundated with applicants), I marvel that > those still employed have time to do google searches on potential > applicants. > > (Are there companies out there that perform these duties for harried and > understaffed human resource departments?) > > I tend to look at articles like these as attempts by the staid and > conservative minded to curve behavior they frown upon. Another attempt by > the wolves to herd the sheep. > > ~(no)rave! > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson <keithbjohn...@...> > wrote: > > > > These tips should be common sense, but I'm stunned how many people do > some of this. I have friends and former co-workers who indeed post all kinds > of shots of themselves drinking, partying, etc. But more than that, I'm > amazed at how many people I know have posted things such as "Sitting here at > this job I hate watching TV online", or, "Trying to find a better job". > > So take a quick peek, and if you are now looking for a job, or thinking > about it, take a look at your social networking stuff out there with a more > cautious eye... > > > > ******************************************************* > > > http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109267/6-career-killing-facebook-mistakes > > > > 6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes > > > > > > > > > > by Erin Joyce, Managing Editor > > Wednesday, April 7, 2010 > > > > > > provided by > > investopedia_logo.jpg > > > > With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the most > popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known for > the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional > networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool > for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential > employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are > using Facebook to screen potential employees â€" even more than those who > check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don't make > these Facebook faux-pas â€" they might cost you a great opportunity. > > 1. Inappropriate Pictures > > > > It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don't want > to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a night > at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn't want your grandparents to see, > seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help to > support the persona you want to present in your professional life. > > > > > > > > > > 2. Complaining About Your Current Job > > > > You've no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about > how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could > be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up > late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public > forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it > may seem innocent, it's not the kind of impression that sits well with a > potential boss. > > > > > > 3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume > > > > If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your > Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you're likely to be immediately cut > from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn't leave you looking > better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, > and at best careless. > > > > > > > > > > 4. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See > > > > Everyone should know to avoid statuses like "Tom plans to call in sick > tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work > project isn't done?" But you should also be aware of less flamboyant > statuses like "Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her > desk". Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically > anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can > seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job. > > > > > > > > > > 5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings > > > > The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site > started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what > each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand > these settings, or don't bother to check who has access to what. If you are > going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren't, make sure you > take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your > profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any > of your pictures or information. > > > > > > > > > > 6. Losing by Association > > > > You can't control what your friends post to your profile (although you > can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or > to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those > Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down > drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely > innocent. It's unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, > at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your > profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn't want to show your > mother. > > > > > > > > > > Facebook Can Help You Get Hired … or Fired > > > > The best advice is to lock down your personal profile so that only > friends you approve can see anything on that profile. Then, create a second, > public profile on Facebook purely for professional use. This profile > functions like an online resume, and should only contain information you'd > be comfortable telling your potential employer face to face. Having a social > networking profile is a good thing â€" it presents you as technologically > and professionally savvy. Just make sure your profile is helping to present > your best side â€" not the side that got drunk at your buddy's New Year's > party. > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Post your SciFiNoir Profile at > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! > Groups Links > > > > -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
