Rejected..No Facebook?!!

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I was really excited! Someone actually called me for an interview!! All of us LPNs were laid off in favor of medication aides over a year ago. Unemployment ran out long ago. I am an experienced LPN of eight years in many areas. I am also 55yrs old. It has been a long, very depressing time trying to find work. Some days dont even get dressed and leave the hair up in the ever present bun on top of my head. You know, the sweatpants, and wheres my bra again? So it felt nice to doll up and head out for an interview. Arrived 10 minutes early and waited for 30 minutes. DON finally comes for me, gives me a tour and we sit to interview. Its going well, we talk nursing and patient care. I felt like a nurse again. Tells me that they don't pay for experience there. New grad and eight year nurse make the same. uh,,ok. Then she says the position is only for one eight hour shift a week. It was listed part time. uhh...ok. Talks about orientation, etc. Its feeling good. THEN...she says " I searched for you on Facebook, I couldn't find you?" Trying to keep my jaw from dropping I inform her that I do not have a Facebook account. " You don't?! Why? That's how I track my employees, are you planning on getting one?" I informed her that I did not. I was then given the " I have other applicants to interview, and the interview was abruptly over. No one wants us older experienced nurses. Its time for me to face reality. Anyone have any suggestions for work from home nursing?? Thanks for listening

My supervisors use facebook, instagram and anything else they can to watch how you are, and yeah, when they interviewed me they said the same thing... We searched for your facebook and couldnt find it... Well because Im listed under my maiden name, not married name. Its crazy.

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Specializes in PCCN.

wow- that's how we track you? for 8 hours a week and no hopes of ever getting an increase in pay????

1. creepy as you know what

2. I know you want a job, but no job is worth working for that creep/jerk.

What about job retraining resources- Since LPN opportunities are not that abundant, maybe you'd qualify for some schooling?

eta- the more I think about it, if anyone said they "track me by my facebook" I would have walked right on then and there. The nerve. It's one thing that people do do that, but another to come right out and say it!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
wow- that's how we track you? for 8 hours a week and no hopes of ever getting an increase in pay????

1. creepy as you know what

2. I know you want a job, but no job is worth working for that creep/jerk.

What about job retraining resources- Since LPN opportunities are not that abundant, maybe you'd qualify for some schooling?

eta- the more I think about it, if anyone said they "track me by my facebook" I would have walked right on then and there. The nerve. It's one thing that people do do that, but another to come right out and say it!!

This.

I have never had an employer ask me if I'm on Facebook; that's pretty unprofessional to me IMHO, and I agree it's a red flag.

I do have a Facebook page; my name is so unusual that anyone can find me BUT, my privacy is on lockdown and I'm not really on it as much, but the privacy settings are enough to only state who I am and that's it.

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Specializes in None yet..
yep. outsmart them. ;) they want to "keep track of you"? (which is uber-creepy and intrusive btw) Make a simple decoy FB page; add a profile pic and add a few of your close friends and family so it looks legit. then "friend" the employer and tell them that you have a page but you rarely use it.

I put everything on my decoy "work" page in French, just because I'm an obnoxious little brat who likes to mess with people like this. you want the link to my FB page? okay, have fun wasting your time translating it! :D

if you really do have a facebook page that you actually use, make sure your privacy settings are legit - i have mine so that no one can search for me - i have to be the one to friend them if someone wants to add me, and only friends can view my content. and i certainly don't put my education or employment details on there!

How do you make a decoy FB page if you already have an FB page? This is an interesting idea...

As far as having an FB account as a work requirement, that seems like an easy way for bosses to get around discrimination laws by finding out personal information that is none of their business legally. Does your state have a human rights office? You may want to talk to them. Not to get the job but to make the employer less evil.

I agree with the posters who say you dodged a bullet. Also with those who say you need to be aggressive and smart in your job search and perhaps get some support. There's plenty of great job hunting advice on allnurses.com and if you want a referral to a really great online resource that helped me land a great job that required experience when I didn't have it, please PM me.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I don't see a point to make a Facebook page just to please your employer. Either have one for YOU or don't. Don't make one just for your employer so they can snoop. The excuse of seeing if you are computer savviness doesn't fly. You don't need to have a Facebook page to know how to use a computer.

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I had a boss who sent me a friend request. I was told that everyone had to accept her request to work there. Okay cool, I never post anything on there except for my cats or what we were doing in microbiology class. We had a terrible family crisis where my sister and new nephew were care flighted to LSU medical. Our family was using FB to keep everyone up to date. This DON calls me into work the next wanting to know the details about my sister and nephew. She got blocked as soon as I got home. My FB now super private. I tell employers that I'm on Twitter. Twitter isn't as popular as FB and good luck finding me there too.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What about going back to school. You could get you ADN in a yr and be an RN, better job security
As someone who has transitioned from LPN to ASN, the process isn't that simple...if going back to school only took a year, I'm sure the OP would have thought of this bright idea by now.

After completing the LPN program, I still needed to complete prerequisite coursework, test score requirements, and developmental (a.k.a. remedial) coursework, all of which took significant time. In addition, I had to complete these requirements while working full-time.

Furthermore, even with a competitive prerequisite GPA, there's no guarantee that an LPN will be accepted into the bridge program on the first application (or second, or third), especially if one lives in an area with fiercely competitive nursing school admissions. For instance, my former coworker was rejected from a bridge program with a 4.0 GPA because so many others with identical GPAs had applied that year.

We must also remain cognizant that the OP is 55 years old, and may not have the cash to return to school due to longstanding unemployment. This means she'd accrue student loan debt at the very time in a person's life when it is unwise to do so. Also, not all LPNs want to become RNs.

Just some food for thought...things are not always as easy as they appear.

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IF you are so inclined, "linked in" is a more professional focused social media outlet, in my opinion. If lines of questioning seem to revolve around social media, I would be more apt to do something like that. "No, I am not on facebook, but you can find me on linkedin".

Also, another thought--schools are churning out medication aides and medical assistants and CNA's faster than ever--Maybe teaching a class at a local vocational/trade school?

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Pedi.
I'm not sure but I really don't think that an employer can legally not hire someone because they don't have a Facebook account.

I think the lady doing the hiring had better stop asking that question and giving the appearance that the interview is shut down when she finds out a candidate doesn't. As someone above said, you dodged a bullet for sure!!

Sure they can. Employers can refuse to hire candidates for pretty much any reason, other than those prohibited by law: race, sex, veteran status, disability, pregnancy. And if they want to discriminate against a potential employee for one of those reasons (let's say pregnancy) in this economy, they can easily do it. It won't be too hard to find another non-pregnant equally qualified candidate for the job and they can argue the reason they hired the other person was because they liked him/her better, personality, they seemed to click with the culture of the job, etc. "People who don't use facebook" are not a protected class. The government doesn't really care who most private employers hire.

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Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.
Yeah, there is no way I would make a Facebook profile (if I didn't have a Facebook) or add my boss as a friend just so they could stalk me while I'm not at work. That's not a job I want nor a boss I want. Pass.

I could just see that DON making me go into her office & writing me up for something I did & she didn't like on my days off.

I worked with a nurse who got suspended for three days for posting a pic of herself holding/showing a gun that she legally owned on FB. A family member of a resident saw it, called and complained to the facility, and they suspended her!

I never have and never will do FB.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I worked with a nurse who got suspended for three days for posting a pic of herself holding/showing a gun that she legally owned on FB. A family member of a resident saw it, called and complained to the facility, and they suspended her!

I never have and never will do FB.

That's ridiculous! I have a Facebook but I keep it very private. People have tried to search to add & can't find me. I have never added my boss & never would. But at this point all people see are pictures of my infant son.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse.

That's crazy. Like many others have said, you dodged a bullet there. I am very selective about who is on my friends list, and even more so when adding coworkers. I feel like my facebook page is like me inviting you into my living room for a chat. You get to see a more personal side of me, and not every one is privileged to see it. Nor would I just invite anyone into my home. For professional reasons I have had a fake name on facebook for years, everything relevant is private (spare a few chosen public posts for my haters :lol2:) and I don't list my employer. Considering most of my friends are people I actually know in person, I don't mind having my education listed, most know that anyways.

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