Do you think your private life is private? Think again. Your employment opportunity can be in jeopardy because of what you decided to put on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media outlet. Why? You may be surprised to know that employers are checking on you through social media outlets before making a final decision on offering you a job. Here is an interview by Bridgette Shanahan of NBC News Channel 15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDWFnrbMX0&feature=related
I never could understand what your private life has to do with your qualifications. In my opinion, what a person decides to do in their private time should be their business, as long as it does not affect their job performance. Employers should really be careful with how they decide to use social networks as a hiring tool. An attorney by the name of Kevin Maltby, an employment law specialist for Bacon Wilson, discusses the use of social media from a legal stand point http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZIxNQsuwIs. I hope that one day employers would base their hiring decisions solely on credentials.
Additional links on this topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=9EGwZrDmHCQ&NR=1 (can social networking keep me from getting hired, Fox 10 News)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axvk-J73G4A&feature=related (funny example)
Our private lives are no longer private when we out ourselves in public. If a company is looking at things you post on Facebook or Twitter then you have allowed yourself to become public and it isn't private anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnd why shouldn't companies look at how you behave on Facebook and Twitter, they are investing in you as a competent employee and won't prove to be an embarrassment to them.
Also consider that the more public the position the more scrutiny you are going to undergo.
I understand what you are saying Nancey and here is my question to you. Would you disclose your sexual preference to your employer? That question may sound over the top and at the same time your sexual preference is your private life. It seems to me that digging into a person’s private life and using what is found as a reason to disqualify an applicant should be considered a violation of privacy.
DeleteNo, I wouldn't, BUT, if it's there for the world to see, then an future or current employer is going to see it. Do they have the right? If you posted it to a public forum, yes they do.
DeleteI never understood what your private life had to do with a job, either. There are tons of stories where having a Facebook account ruined someone's chance at their dream job. How does looking at their profile picture not qualify them? They might be drinking in it, but they could be extremely qualified for the job!
ReplyDeleteThe fact is, more employers are looking at social media before investing in an employee. Depending on the job, our private lives have always been an issue. I've been some sort of teacher for nearly 30 years. Most of my contracts have included a morality clause.
ReplyDeleteDr C
The way I see it, if I had a business and was hiring someone I would definitely creep their page if given the opportunity.
ReplyDelete