I saw this on tv the other day.  I have mixed emotions about it.  As an employer, it must be really hard to find good, honest, reliable employees.  I see it when I go shopping or the doctors office.  Some employers have very high turnover for a number of reasons.

If an employer is looking for someone to fill a position that requires the employee to handle clients, money or an executive position, the employer would want to make sure the employee is fit for the position.  It is so easy to dummy a resume; they may need more information.

Someone may present his/her self as an honest, maybe family type of person, but on their facebook page, they are dressed provocatively and swigging from a keg.

On the other hand, a person does have a right to post what they wish on their page and shouldn't have it held against them because Facebook and MySpace are basically for fun.

I think it depends on what you're being hired for. If you're going to work flipping burgers at Five Guys, it probably doesn't matter if you have pictures of your tattoos or baudy poems you've written on MySpace. However, if you're applying for a job as an assistant district attorney or a financial analyst, then your potential employer has an obligation to screen out inappropriate candidates.

Employers often make a BIG investment when hiring new employees. In some cases, it can literally cost $10,000 to recruit and sign a new employee. Any employer needs to do "due diligence" when spending that kind of money. If they have two candidates with similar backgrounds but one of them has pierced nipples, goes to goth trance events and picks up girls at Miley Cyrus concerts, which would you hire? Investigators paid to look into the backgrounds of potential employees must find MySpace and Facebook quite the feast.

The bottom line really is: If you don't want people to know about it, keep your mouth shut and your fingers off the keyboard.

--Bob

I don't think we yet know all the ramifications of posting thoughts and pictures of ourselves on the internet. My understanding is that virtually everything gets archived and is ''out there'' somewhere, even if you deleted it. Think twice before hitting the 'submit' button.

"Everyone's gotta learn to make their profiles on these type of sites private. "  I could not agree more.  I used to keep my MySpace profile open until someone I know locally who turned out to be a psycho.  I didn't put anything skanky on there but I didn't want her knowing what I was up to in my life so I closed it down.  I'm now over at Facebook and keep that private as well. 

I'm always totally amazed at the stuff people put on their social networking pages.  My DH's niece who is 18 has the nastiest stuff on there.  She'd probably spin around thrice and drop dead if she knew me and her uncle were reading her nasty crap.  It literally makes me sick to see the stuff she and her friends say.

Buggheart said…

I'm always totally amazed at the stuff people put on their social networking pages.  My DH's niece who is 18 has the nastiest stuff on there.  She'd probably spin around thrice and drop dead if she knew me and her uncle were reading her nasty crap.  It literally makes me sick to see the stuff she and her friends say.

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I always keep my profile(s) private (I have nothing to hide), but you never know who is lurking around.   

My friend's brother spreaded lies about his best friend on his MySpace page. Needless to say, some people found out including his family and the best friend. I can't believe some of the things people put on their MySpace pages.

If you don't want it out in public, do not put it online - public or private. You would not believe how many of your "friends" will show your private stuff. When you have 500 "friends," you are kidding yourself.

As far as employers, if it's posted in public . . . It gives them a pretty good idea as far as what kind of decisions you make. If they come and look in the window at your house, that would be odd. Probably wouldn't want to work for peek freaks anyway.

My spin. And, I have seen a lot and much that you could not pay me to do or to post.

Well I don't agree that you shouldn't put it online at all, instead you should be smart about who you add as friends.  I have only a few "friends" on those sites, and all of them are people I personally know and trust.

Those people who add everyone in the world need to get it under control and realize that they shouldn't add people they don't know just because they are funny or cute or have something in common.

As many of you have stated, I can see how employers would get a lot out of myspace/facebook if they are hiring for positions where they need someone they can really trust.  The funny thing is, I am 100% sure there is nothing on my sites that would incriminate me, but I still would rather they weren't looking which is why I stay private.  I've found some coworkers on Facebook but I haven't told them I'm there or added them, just to be safe!  What's innocent fun to one person may be considered bad to someone else.  Although I'd still think everything I do online is A-OK, but you never really know what people think is bad.  Maybe someone doesn't like my opinion on a certain topic, or maybe they think I shouldn't be friends with a certain person, that's why I stay private.

And Buggheart, I totally agree that I can't believe the stuff I find on these sites.  Ok so I found one girl that she was 17 and her tagline said: "I'm pregnant!!!"   Then a few days later it changed to "I'm pregnant and engaged :) "

Honestly that is NOT something I would be bragging about, but to her it was like totally awesome to let the world know.  This to me shows how life has changed in the world of the internet.  A lot of people think things are totally OK now just because they see it all the time online.

You were probably looking at my husband's niece's page!  Seriously.  Only I don't think she's engaged.  I look at some of the poses in her pictures on MySpace and I think OMG she's 17 and someone's MOM and she's doing this crap.  Ugh. 

My two cents is that things like a myspace profile and such should be off limits when determining a job hire. While I can see the point of wanting to pre-determine the kind of work ethic or professional demeanor of someone based solely by things they post online, I disagree with the practice.

A person's personal life is not their professional life, and there are more than a few of us out there who have two very different lives that they lead in and out of their respective places of employment and my personal life and internet life are directly related as well.

Just my thoughts at least.

I agree with you scorpio and I think you explained what I was thinking better than I could.  Something about them looking up and being able to see people just chatting with their friends doesn't sit right with me.  Once again, I think more people should keep it private and then they wouldn't even have to worry about it as much.

Well, I have a public MySpace and I wouldn't care who saw it because I carefully honed it to be a networking site in many ways. There are links to everything I do, my reviews, etc. I do not let people post sexual comments (I don't know most well enough for them to post any comments really.), and I don't get involved with people who seem to be friendly but whom I don't know. They can be "on my friends list" but I won't engage in personal chit chat with them.

I am careful about what I say but I have opened up in blogs in the past, never mentioning names but venting in a way that maybe wasn't so cool. I have since closed off those blogs for the most part.

The thing is, my son is one of the best kids I ever met. I don't say that because he's my kid either. But his MySpace page makes me cringe. Dumb pics, dumb friends, not so sweet language at times. If a potential employer saw that, I don't think he or she would get to know the person my son truly is. Those social sites encourage outrageous and dumb behavior, especially for younger people. I'm not so sure they should be used as a way to measure the integrity of a person. Then again...as you have all said, what you put out there in public can be seen by anyone and it could bite you in the tail. Luckily he never talks about anything or anyone. Oh oh, he may be reading this. DOH!

I write at MyLot (vivasuzi, you should see some referral money coming your way. I have been on a MyLot spree! LOL.) and often answer some personal questions in discussions. I have recently started to leave out certain facts because I have to stop being such an open book to the whole world.

I really don't care who reads my public stuff though. If they got into my email or something, then I would be ticked off because that's obviously supposed to be private.

See that's what I'm saying Patty, even GOOD kids do stupid things on Myspace, I don't know why!  My teen cousins go on there and through out the F word all over, but they would never say that to their parents or (when they get a job) their bosses!  OH and it seems to be the culture of teen girls now to take kissy face pictures (they are always pursing their lips).  I don't get that, I'm a smiler and think smiling is pretty, but they do it all over. 

Glad you are being more general when doing your discussions and such.  On mylot I always keep things general OR make up a story with fake names that basically explains what I'm trying to say without being anything anyone would be able to figure out.  Basically, although I complain about some ppl on mylot, they would never know it was them if they ever came across it!  Speaking of mylot, it's time I return!  I stay away during Big Brother season b/c I always end up hearing a spoiler or two, but now that is over!

Whatever you post on-line - stays on-line for a long time!  Simply, the Internet is GLOBAL.  If you would be embarrassed for anyone to see it - don't post it...period.

OldHippie said…

Whatever you post on-line - stays on-line for a long time!  Simply, the Internet is GLOBAL.  If you would be embarrassed for anyone to see it - don't post it...period.

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I agree totally.  Whether it should or should not be isn't the question.  It is!

I remember a boss once telling a number of us that when it comes to submitting our expense reports, if we wouldn't want to see it published in the Wall Street Journal, we shouldn't submit it.  That was long before the Internet, but sage advice.

Today, everything we put up on the web is fair game.  Post responsibly!

Rudi

The thing about adding friends as the only people who can see it - well I've come across posts I've written in the past while googling. I think you can be found much more easily by those who know what they are doing than we can imagine (as Old Hippie said). I am much more cautious now about what I say about people I know for example even in a post such as this (people as IRL).

Wow this is an old thread that came back up.  I still am on the same side I was before - go ahead and have a FB page, but be smart about it.  Keep it private, only add people you know and trust, and don't post stupid stuff that you wouldn't want everyone reading.  The same goes here at Viewpoints if you think about it!

Ok so here's another issue I have with FB.  Some people use it as a way to argue, complain or whine about their family and friends when they aren't getting along.  I can't even imagine ever doing that.  Some people on there look so childish when they are fighting with their friend via FB.  I don't get it!  One of my friends was posting when she was fighting with her spouse - moved out even - and sounded like he was a major jerk.  Then that fight was over and she's back with him and we are all supposed to think he's a great guy?  Why'd she air her dirty laundry for all her old friends to see?

I also have some friends who will communicate with their spouses through FB using the public wall.  Why?  I don't know.  If I need to tell my husband something I call him or text him on his phone.  I'm not sure I understand why some people think the world needs to know what they are planning for dinner or that they told their spouse they'd be home late.  My husband and I rarely (if ever) comment on each others pages/photos because - well we live together and can say it to each other's face.

As of late, Facebook has become a fun way to keep in touch with some old school friends and my current friends.  We post silly status updates (like 'I need a nap!') and respond to each other.  There's not much seriousness in my facebook world and definitely nothing bad.  My mom and uncles have since joined and are my friends.  As you can imagine, I would never post anything that my mom wouldn't like and therefore an employer shouldn't have a problem with it either.  Even so - I'm still private because it's non of their business.

vivasuzi said…

Wow this is an old thread that came back up.  I still am on the same side I was before - go ahead and have a FB page, but be smart about it.  Keep it private, only add people you know and trust, and don't post stupid stuff that you wouldn't want everyone reading.  The same goes here at Viewpoints if you think about it!

Ok so here's another issue I have with FB.  Some people use it as a way to argue, complain or whine about their family and friends when they aren't getting along.  I can't even imagine ever doing that.  Some people on there look so childish when they are fighting with their friend via FB.  I don't get it!  One of my friends was posting when she was fighting with her spouse - moved out even - and sounded like he was a major jerk.  Then that fight was over and she's back with him and we are all supposed to think he's a great guy?  Why'd she air her dirty laundry for all her old friends to see?

I also have some friends who will communicate with their spouses through FB using the public wall.  Why?  I don't know.  If I need to tell my husband something I call him or text him on his phone.  I'm not sure I understand why some people think the world needs to know what they are planning for dinner or that they told their spouse they'd be home late.  My husband and I rarely (if ever) comment on each others pages/photos because - well we live together and can say it to each other's face.

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Sounds like you have more than a few dumb friends.  Sometimes you just gotta thin the herd.

A woman who is a former co-worker and I have kept in touch occasionally on Facebook, strictly professionally. I thought she might be willing to give me a work-related reference, so earlier today I started typing my request on her "wall" on Facebook. Then I realized that the whole world could see it and she might not want dozens of other "friends" asking for similar references. Therefore, I sent my request to her privately.

Yeah, it makes sense that you only put things on Facebook if you want the world to see them. And it's a BIG world, so keep that in mind.

--Bob

Yeah i don't get that Bob.  People make plans and private conversation on the "wall".  I do sometimes but usually only if some of my other friends might be interested.  Otherwise, my friends and I use the private messaging - which is actually very convenient on FB and a great way to plan an outing with multiple people!

There are many benefits to FB and I've found more and more people using it for Party invites, remembering bdays, and sharing photos that your friends would never see otherwise.  I love that my videos of my nephew get lots of comments by my family and friends :)  But even then I keep the videos limited to "friends only" because I don't want the world to see.

Facebook has even worked in reverse for my company recently. I know of a girl who was posting on her public profile how tired she was of her job, and how she would just stick it out a little bit longer before she quits. Needless to say, a few higher-ups in the company caught wind of this & were able to find her replacement & let her go before she dropped them. Naturally, she then posted how she was jobless & didn't know what she was going to do. If you don't want EVERYONE to read it, don't post it!!

Yeah I might complain that my office is freezing (which I do often!) but I can't imagine posting all kinds of ridiculous things like that.  Granted, I don't want to leave my job so I wouldn't even say that.  But even if someone does something dumb there, I don't post it on FB just in case.  

I tend to keep my facebook updates to simple or silly things or otherwise positive things.  I might complain about being sick, or tired, or getting cut off on the drive home, but I won't complain about people I know because I think that is just rude... even if those people cannot see my facebook, it's still kind of rude to bash people in such a public forum.

If you write it, others read it.  Many cases, it is simply "too much info" to be floating about the world.  If you are too "loose" in public, as an employer would I have to be concerned with the lack of discretion on the job??

If you set FB for friends only though, Does the whole world see what you write? I don't care because I never write anything I wouldn't want someone to see but was just wondering. I think people forget that the net is a very public place and what they say there isn't confined to who they may be intending it to be for.

I just stay light and fluffy on FB. I have friends of all types including family members and professional coworkers so I am mindful of what I say at all times just to be sure no one gets the wrong idea or whatever. I almost wish I had split myself into two Facebook names, one for family and certain professional friends and one for my goofy, real life crazy friends. But oh well, it's only Facebook.

The good thing about FB is that you can really tailor who sees what. I am addicted to the game FarmVille on facebook, and to make it better you need neighbors, but only about 12 of my friends play, so I found other fans and created a list of FV friends, I limit their ability to only see my wall posts, they cant see where I live, any photos, etc. so you really can control who sees what. 

I am constantly amazed at what people will say on the internet. And yes, if someone had something particularly disturbing on their facebook page, and they had the page set so that anyone can see it then yes they deserve not to be hired for poor judgement.

Tara I never knew that you can hide stuff from some friends and not others. I only add friends that I know in real life, and like Patty I don't say or post anything I wouldn't want the world to see.  

Facebook is much much cleaner than myspace, I've noticed, because most of the younger people I know that are on Facebook have their parents and family members on their friends list.  Whereas Myspace is a mess and I only go there to check in on a few friends of mine who won't move to Facebook!  But myspace is where I run into the crazy teens that don't seem to have any sense of decency.  I believe FB was started for college age students which might be why people there (at least the ones I am friends with) are more mature.

It's hard enough to find good help who really appreciate having a job when you interview them face to face. They seem okay at first and then they begin to show their lack of enthusiasm over the first couple of weeks. Finding someone on Facebook would be a disaster in my opinion. Before I started a business, someone told me that my hardest problem would be finding good employees and they were right! So hiring from Facebook? Why aren't these people hitting the streets to find a job?

That's not what we are talking about silverscreen.  We are talking about employers who go to facebook to research potential employees and then decide not to hire them after seeing their facebook.  This isn't about people looking for jobs on facebook, it's about people looking for jobs the regular way, and then facebook hurts their chances to get it.