Blog: Job Seekers to Employers: Stop Snooping!
- 04 March, 2009 11:31
- Comments 8
Employers are increasingly trolling the web for information about prospective employees that they can use in their hiring decisions. Consequently, career experts advise job seekers to not post any photos, opinions or information on blogs and social networking websites that a potential employer might find offensive. Instead of cautioning job seekers to censor their activity online, we job seekers and defenders of our civil liberties should tell employers to stop snooping and to stop judging our behavior outside of work.
I'm tired of career experts advising job seekers to "play it safe" online by not posting any photos, opinions or information on blogs and social networking websites that a potential employer might find remotely off-putting.
I understand where these career counselors are coming from: They're in the business of dispensing advice that will help people land jobs. Recommending that people "play it safe" is as anodyne as it gets.
But instead of cautioning job seekers to censor their behavior and the information and pictures they post online, we job seekers and defenders of civil liberties should tell employers to stop snooping and stop judging our behavior outside of work. What we do, say and believe in our personal lives in most cases has no bearing on our ability to do a job, barring criminal behavior, of course.
Employer as Voyeur
Employers are increasingly trolling the Web for information about prospective employees that they can use in their hiring decisions. According to a survey CareerBuilder conducted last year, one-third of employers have disqualified a candidate after checking out the candidate on social networking websites and finding stuff they didn't like.
What do employers find so offensive? Evidence of Dionysian behavior: Drinking, drugs and "provocative or inappropriate photographs or information." Heaven forbid men get drunk, women show off their physical assets or anyone engages in political discourse or talks publicly about their sex lives.
Many of those employers surveyed by CareerBuilder are more concerned about the appearance of candidates' private lives and personal beliefs online than they are about job seekers' professional skills. In fact, they would pass on a candidate who boasts about his or her binge drinking on Facebook before they'd exclude a candidate with poor communication skills, according to the survey.
Apparently, job seekers aren't allowed to have fun anymore—at least they're not allowed to display their fun or their views online.
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Comments
William
Great article!
Great article thanks Meridith! some really useful information here. Anyway if you have time, please have a look at http://www.australiaworks.com.au, its a job seekers community, full of great tips on resumes, interviews and job searching, as well as a forum dedicated to latest job vacancies. We've had over 1,500 posts in less than 2 weeks, so please join us!
mychar
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This is a really good idea and there useful <a href="http://fastmed.org">medical jobs in Australia</a> can be found in this site.
This is an excellent medical executive position in a highly regarded regional hospital in Australia.They can supply medical recruitment at all levels-and most disciplines. Whether you need cover for short or longer term needs, or to fill a permanent position, They can help.
The Postgraduate Medical Deanery also has contacts in Australia which you may find useful. See their website <a href="http://fastmed.org">http://fastmed.org</a>
Just try it see how useful for our job career.
Executive Careers Blogger
Job Seekers to Employers: Stop Snooping!
Nice article! If you do plan on using your account for your personal life and friends, I would suggest making an account only dedicated to your professional pursuits. This will keep your private and professional life separate.
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Re: Job Seekers to Employers: Stop Snooping!
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