Social Network and Hiring...Employers use your posts

mslove · Aug 25, 2011

To me there is NO excuse for this to happen. Facebook (and i'm sure other sites) have privacy measures you can control. If your employer or a potential employer finds your "stuff" then it's your own fault. You can:

1) Make yourself totally unsearchable to people who are not your friends (so a potential employer won't even see you on there at all! It appears that you're not even on facebook) This is what everyone searching for a job should do!!

2) you can make your entire profile private - all anyone can see is your main user photo, name/network, and sex. Your posts, info, pics, friends, notes, and everything else are hidden. But if you also do what I mentioned in #1, they won't even get to #2. I have my profile set up like this now.

3) Many teachers I know also change their name to their *first name middle name* so that they can't be found when searching their first and last name (but again, if you do #1, this is unnecessary)

This is just my own sidenote/question:

I have a unique last name so I'm an obvious person. I always wonder though, if someone searches say, John Smith, how do they know it's the correct John Smith? If they have their profile set to private, then there is most likely no other information to narrow them down either (such as location; which with very common names, there are usually more than 1 person from the same location anyway). Do they just pick a "John Smith" that they think it is? (which seems like it could potentially be impossible to do)

AloeBlox · Aug 25, 2011

well said ^^^^^ thats what i do.....when working for a company... i used to do background checks.... you'll be surprised the things you find with a full name and a email address.

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Aug 25, 2011

well said ^^^^^ thats what i do.....when working for a company... i used to do background checks.... you'll be surprised the things you find with a full name and a email address.

Which is why I have an email address only for applications and work. It is associated with nothing else.

mslove · Aug 25, 2011

well said ^^^^^ thats what i do.....when working for a company... i used to do background checks.... you'll be surprised the things you find with a full name and a email address.

oh god, i can just imagine! Many people use their personal emails when applying to jobs too. Everyone should have a separate emails JUST for job searches!

LydiaNN · Aug 25, 2011

I agree that setting pages to private is important. So is not accepting friendship requests from strangers. I wouldn't go so far as to make my name unsearchable, though: how are people you want to be back in touch with going to find you otherwise?

I've sat on the interview panel at work for a few employee hires. I know there's no way we'd be allowed to factor any social media information into our decision, though. We have to submit our questions in advance to HR and then follow them exactly. We're not even allowed to ask follow up questions because it supposedly gives that applicant and advantage or disadvantage over other candidates! Still, that's our employer's policy, not the law. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point the law catches up with technology and certain types of comments found through social media couldn't be considered, but for now, posters should beware! Not just for hiring decisions, either, but maybe even more so for promotion decisions!

tomc5555 · Aug 25, 2011

well said ^^^^^ thats what i do.....when working for a company... i used to do background checks.... you'll be surprised the things you find with a full name and a email address.

What can be found w/ email address?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 25, 2011

Social network sites ask for e-mail to join.....

missLissRn · Aug 25, 2011

I have all my settings to private. however, I have heard that employers have ways of getting around that (not sure how true that is). But in any case, I watch what I post, only have pictures of my family and some friends, none of any drinking. I also make sure I'm not tagged in any photos that would suggest it either. Everything on my fb is about my family, and what my kids are doing and so on.

So it's pretty clear that I'm a family person. How does that look to a future employer? I often have thought about that. Really I have nothing to hide, so if they feel the need to look, well look. However, what I do have a problem with, what I do on my time, is my time. I don't feel anyone should be judged on what they do outside of work (as long as it's legal). but thats just my opinion.

elthia · Aug 25, 2011

My settings are very private, and I have no coworkers as friends, I don't list my employer, I don't list my occupation, and I make no posts about work. Due to strife with my stepchildren's mother,I don't even have my stepchildren as friends.

Ryden25 · Aug 25, 2011

I still don't understand what employers can find with an email address. Please give an example if possible.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 25, 2011

I still don't understand what employers can find with an email address. Please give an example if possible.

If they have your e-mail address, they can find out which networks you are part of, and read your info since your user name can come up with the e-mail info.... if your privacy settings are fairly tight, it makes it harder. Twenty bucks and a people search site can find out all sorts of info - You could search your employers' info (background check, income, etc). It's pretty crazy. If there's a cross reference site (not sure who does this) your name and e-mail will tie together information and make it easier for the employer to find your stuff......

Ever google your own user name? It's interesting !! Granted, an employer won't have your user name, but with other info, may be able to figure out who you are. Birthdates, location, gender, etc...all narrow things down :)