Employers' Background Investigation (i.e. social media)

Nurses General Nursing

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I have an interview Monday with a potential employer and am hoping that they extend an offer.  In anticipation of a background investigation, I am considering suspending my AN and social media accounts.  I try to maintain a degree of anonymity and have never written anything super controversial or outing former employers, but some of my post on AN, although truthful, are less than flattering.  Because all my accounts are tied to an email which can be traced back to me, what do you recommend?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

For a nursing school assignment, I had to "interview" a nurse. I searched online for someone to interview and they agreed to a phone call. I did a little search on her to have appropriate questions, and one of the things I asked was generally why she took a new position. Apparently, she was still at her old job and hadn't told them. ?

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Specializes in ER.

I am a landlady and when I check out prospective tenants I check their social media, I checked court records on them that are accessible online, and I do a general search.

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3 hours ago, klone said:

That's different. Hiring managers can and do search people's names on social media and dig around in their profiles, completely outside of the formal background check.

When I applied for a director job, the CNO/hiring supervisor mentioned a news article I was in in a newspaper half the country away. She found it by googling my name.

But they can’t find an anonymous account on AN.  Googling your name and finding an article is different.  I Google myself regularly.  My stuff is locked down tight.  If I find anything, I fix it by changing privacy settings.

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8 hours ago, klone said:

When I applied for a director job, the CNO/hiring supervisor mentioned a news article I was in in a newspaper half the country away. She found it by googling my name.

Wow, awkward!!

 

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18 hours ago, Emergent said:

I advise to either suspend, or do a thorough cleanup. Your facebook looks pretty benign to me. 

Thank you Emergent-my thoughts too!  I've had a few of these deep dive background investigations so this isn't just me being paranoid.  I've also known and read about nurses being fired over content posted on social media so I think I'll just take this added step to assure anonymity.  

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Specializes in Community health.

When I hear about employers googling, I always think I’m glad that I have a very boring name. It isn’t literally John Smith, but it is really close and there are hundreds of people in the US with my name. I’ve never done anything to get me an internet presence anyway, but if I had, it would be hard to identify me online! 

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Specializes in Programming / Strategist for allnurses.

Here at allnurses we understand the risk of online posting which is why our platform is "anonymous" and always will be.

Real Name (facebook) ≠ Anonymous Username (allnurses)

The only way anyone can connect your anonymous username with your real name is if you admit you own the username. 

If you are worried about your facebook exposure, I recommend setting your account to PRIVATE and only use it to communicate with family (and maybe close friends).

My tip to you is to stay positive when posting online - private or not. 

When posting online...
If you have nothing positive to say then keep your mouth shut. ?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I don’t have social media.

I don’t think I can mentally handle the barrage of politics and negativity. I don’t watch the news for this reason. Every job I’ve applied to I’ve gotten. The first thing they do is comb through social media. I’ve been told by my employers that I have been selected due to my savory (lack thereof) presence online. It’s time to unplug. You will never be happier.  

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Well I don't post anything that my sister (the lawyer) would have an issue with,

 

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Specializes in Cardiac, NICU, CM, LNC, Forensic, LCP.

I don’t think you need to suspend your social media accounts, but perhaps adjust the viewer’s settings to “private” or “friends only.” I often Google myself to make sure my words and photos are appropriate. 

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Specializes in Retired NICU.

I closed my facebook account for quite a few years, and reopened it with only immediate family for years due to work. I know of at least 1 RN who was fired over a facebook post, at a facility that I worked at. 

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Specializes in ER.
2 hours ago, walkingrock said:

I closed my facebook account for quite a few years, and reopened it with only immediate family for years due to work. I know of at least 1 RN who was fired over a facebook post, at a facility that I worked at. 

What was the post about?

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