Would you employ a person who didn't have slightyly embarrasing pictures on their facebook page?
Rumours and apocrypha tells us that employers look on facebook to get an insight into their potential recruits. People have stories to tell about how a particular picture of them looking stoned or drunk has cost them a job.
I would argue that anyone who hasn't got something slightly embarrasing in their life really isn't worth employing. What are your thoughts?
Good Answers (2)
Donna G
Former Vice President, Human Resources for Walgreens - OptionCare
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I question why it's an employer's business whether one has "work-life" balance. It is my job an employer to help my employee engage in their work while at work. It is not my business to get into their personal life, unless it impacts their performance on the job. That is what references and background checks cover. As HR professionals we hear so much about employees and their personal issues, I don't need to search out social networking sites as well.
I'm not interested in some's facebook and their pictures. The pictures are so misleading in so many cases! What I am more concerned about is if the individual is professional at work and maintains a professional work ethic!
Your argument is extreme, of course, but it is interesting that you pose it that way. It draws attention to possible irrelevancy of the Facebook world to the office world. Want to be surrounded only by people who do not do stupid things in their personal life - stop spying on them. Defend yourself from knowing too much - you will feel better. Imagine how many nasty surprises you would discover if you really could know everything about everybody. Do you really want to know? Why? Is it really important for doing one's job? The answer is not straightforward, but bad taste does not imply bad ability to do the job. Each time you do not hire somebody because of a embarassing picture on the Net, you - you, not them - probably do the mistake of not separating personal from business. Ask yourself whether Americal lawmakers were smarter than you when they left Bill Clinton in power. Again, the answer is not easy. Basically, employees should be smarter not to be exposed while employers should be smarter to concentrate solely on the skills and attitude.
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Bryan C W
Technical Marketing & Sales Consultant; Open to consider an Executive position.
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I keep my internet persona business-like and do not put anything out there that I would not want my parents or kids to see... It is my personal brand and I intend to keep it professional.
Why would you employ a person indeed who left open access to their personal life? Linked in is one thing, twitter, and face book are others. Now that social media's moved on from Facebook to Linked In, Xing etc, IMO its time to move your professional contacts across and stop them from viewing your school friends. I agree with Bryan, and if anybody does leave their Facebook profiles open, I'd probably ask why they had done that... Admittedly I have always been relieved to see that candidates have twitter/fb profiles and have something of a social life, but happier when they're profiles are private.
Paul M. A
Owner, PMA Technology Group
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By your standards, I would tend to consider myself to highly employable.
At the same time, I would avoid drawing attention to my moments of bad judgement on Facebook for the same reasons I would fail to list them on my resume.
Would I, as an employer, tend to be put of by such postings - damn right I would. And for good reason!
Jason M
Senior Recruiter at 4 Corner Resources (jmatuska@4cornerresources.com)
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The difference is keeping your private life private as opposed to broadcasting it for the whole world to see. I seriously question the maturity of anyone over the age of 21 that puts drunk and/or stoned photos on their Facebook pages. That would also make me question if he/she could pass a drug test.
Clarification added 2 months ago:
I read a comment about "invasion of privacy" when it comes to drug testing. Last time I checked, the world did not owe anyone a job. If you make the choice to use drugs and even worst post about it, you have to accept the risks that come along with that choice. Like I said, the world does not "owe" anyone anything.
Richard F
Recruitment Consultant at Balfor Recruitment
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They'll have a job with me. I'm not on facebook...
I get your point though, people who haven't got a bit of personality about them often make terrible employees.
Hi Chris,
Great Question. Do you employ someone who seemingly does not know how to create a work/life balance, would be my take on it. (Let me know if I'm wrong here...)
Let me play Devil's Advocate for a moment...
Is there is a bigger potential for burn out, if employees don't know how to relax and have fun, and detatch themselves from the workplace during their downtime? If it doesn't interfere with their working life, then does it make a difference if they like to let loose at the weekend with some friends?
Also in response Jason's comments on drugs testing in the workplace, is this not an infringement on privacy? Employers are neither law enforcement nor justice systems, and again if there is no effect on performance in the workplace, is it any of their business?
I'd love to hear what others think...
Sahar A
Out/Inbound Marketing Consultant/ Cultural Diversity Coach/ Speaker- Motivational Speaker
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Chris:
There is a big difference between being personable and between having your personal private life exposed to everyone to see
I understand that as human beings we have our not thinking moments and that what makes us human beings but at the same time would hire someone that has their personal life with all the ups and downs open for everyone to see and know, I have my private life totally separate from my professional life this is the way I like it to be personal is private and that is why they call it private
Jonathan K
Senior Recruiter / Staffing Specialist at Rotator, Medical, Industrial Staffing Services
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There are so many networking sites out there - some focus on business (like LinkedIn); some focus on a social life (FB or Twitter); but a serious job seeker should be aware of what's visible to a potential employer.
One of my biggest pet peeves is responding to an email address that is totally unprofessional .. such as "bigmomma4urlove@skank.net" - probably not my first choice to place in a hospital position dealing with patients or to submit to a client where this candidate will represent myself and the agency where I am employed. Takes our credibility and professionalism and tosses it into the questionable category.
To answer the question - I would hire anyone who is qualifed to do the job .. what you do outside the office is your own issue.
Chris G
Experienced Communicator and Renaissance Man
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While most people probably have some embarrassing moments (not having any sort of suggests that the person is a little boring and may not take any risks), that still doesn’t mean that the details need to be posted to a social networking site. Again, I think we’ve all done things in the past that we may not be too proud of and that allows us to relate to others and know that they’ve probably got some secrets as well that they don’t want everyone to know about. Posting the evidence of our embarrassing moments can show poor judgement, and in a business context, that’s probably a worse offense—if a person is willing to put up pictures of themselves drunk or stoned, what other things (e.g., company secrets) might they be willing to make public? If people choose to make their profiles public on certain sites, I think that they can display some personality without revealing everything.
Tony L
Operations Research Analyst with Scientific Research Corporation
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Chris:
I wouldn't be interested in working for a company that insists that something slightly embarrassing in my life is valuable criteria for my employability. It sounds like they're looking for something to hold over my head.
That, and I've never done anything embarrassing.
Tony
David A
Senior Recruiter IT and Pharma (Business Developement & HEOR)
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Some people are more inclined to post their lives on Facebook. I for one have a limited number of photos on mine and don't ever intend to mass market myself on Facebook. Peoples motivations are very differing on why and how they use Facebook. I don't think there is any justification for saying anyone who doesn't have anything embarassing on facebook isn't worth employing. As I said, people use socil matworkign sites for their own means in their own way. The problem with facebook that can be construed as mis-use by certain individuals is that you can "tag" people without them authorising use of those photos. I have been tagged (albeit with my permission) in photos at a friends barbeque in 2008 which had an "African" fancy dress theme to it. I ended up going in a gorilla suit I borrowed off a friend (don't ask me why he had it) but at the end of the day I would not expect someones intention to hire me being based on dressing up as a gorilla. Interviewers should employ people on their professional merits, and candidates should not be so stupid as to put potentially compromising photos on such a public domain!
Firas A
CEO ♦ Finance & FMCG Professional ♦ Real Estate Brokerage ♦ All In One ♦ One For All
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There is a famous say which I know "Tell whose your friends, I tell you who are"
But with technology and Social media I want to change it to "Checking your Social media accounts I tell who you are?"
I have noticed some persons, not displaying their photos and instead they use Actors. Actress, Models, Singers, Famous persons’ pictures this is strange but what shocks are persons using sexy and unethical pictures and sometimes names.
Usually persons join social network for many reasons:
*) To keep in touch with friends and family
*) They have account s since all people have, why don't they?
*) For business issues and knowledge
*) For music and videos
*) To fill their time
Whatever the purposes are, people should always be ethical, and keep a respectful image about their selves, especially employees, because their behaviours and acts will be by a way or another affect the companies they belong to.
Make Ur Day A Gooood Oneeee
F.A.A.
I read once, that a candidate, who received an offer from a company, slammed the company on Twitter. The candidate received a “your offer has been rescinded” tweet from the HR department of the company. You hear about more and more companies not only doing background and drug testing, but social media searching also.
Judy B. M
Business Marketing Writer and Editor, B2B Marketing Communications
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Just about everybody has something in their past they would prefer to keep hidden. Must our lives now be an open book and Facebook the essential tome for reading all about it? If a spirit of fun informs the the photo record of an individual, then that's fine. If bad judgment is whats on display, not so fine.
Eve L
Rules for the Road: Surviving Your First Job Out of School at Author and Speaker - Career related topics
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I completely agree.
Indira C
Banking Professional
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Not a bad idea....
Thus people should be careful what they post on their pages....coz it does show some image of them eventually....
Peter B. G
Business Strategist-Speaker-Author (Social Media & IT)
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I will not load embarrassing articles onto any social media sites. I try to keep this all professional at all times. Maybe that makes me boring - I hope not
Erin J
Conflict Resolution Services for Individuals, Business Owners, and HR Professionals throughout the US
From a behavioral health perspective it is always interesting to me to not only see how individuals portray or present themselves on FB, but also to see what efforts people take to protect the privacy of this information. Perhaps, as a result, FB can give a different perspective when looking at potential hires.
