I have friends who are long time, high level HR people, and they say the habit of web surfing on applicants is gaining more traction--and it's not just for black people. Employers do it for jobs that are high profile ( such as executives), they do it for jobs that require some level of trust (bank employees, other HR applicants, teachers, counselors), they do it to suss out potential conflicts of views (think tanks, political/activist organizations), etc.
Now, I agree that some may do this just to look for a reason to screen out people they're already doubtful on, but it's really way more than that now. It's being used against a lot of white folk, middle class folk, educated folk--folk who on the surface are "acceptable". It's being seen more and more as just another good tool, along with background checks, drug tests, security clearances, credit checks, and in depth references. I'm not a fan of much of this--especially credit checks for people who won't be handling money or jewels or something--but in this case I think it's a very widespread trend that we all must take into account. There are absolutely some conservative, narrow-minded people using this to screen out others. And perhaps that group will always be the main ones who do so, but it's becoming much more mainstream than that, and it'd be a mistake to dismiss it as something only used by right-wing, conservative companies to keep out liberals and blacks and gays, etc. And yes, even harried, overworked companies are making the time for this... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelwyn" <ravena...@yahoo.com> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:59:33 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Six Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes 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. >
