What are your thoughts of employers searching your social media to determine if they want to hire you?

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:03:07 -0400

Click on below link about employers viewing your social media:

http://www.recruitmentgrapevine.com/article/2014-09-23-55-of-employers-reject-candidates-after-social-media-search

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 23 at 2014 8:12 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:12:02 -0400

Whether one agrees with the practice or not is irrelevant, the fact of the matter is that employers are looking at your social media 'footprint' more and more every day. The best advise is to assume that ANYTHING you post on the web will be forever linked directly to you in perpetuity, and the consequences of those posts will forever follow you.
One of the best things about being 'older' in today's society is that most of us did the majority of our stupid stuff before the days of the internet, cell phones, and digital photography. :)

Response by CPT Mike M. made Sep 23 at 2014 10:34 PM

CPT Mike M. — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:34:05 -0400

It's the world we live in. I'm currently studying to get my MBA and our Career Services department preaches constantly that it's imperative that people have a Linked-In page for their personal and professional branding and networking. I wasn't on Linked-In until a couple of weeks ago when I was told that.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 11:30 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:30:33 -0400

In my book, it's Darwin's Law in action.

We, in the U.S. are free to say just about anything we want about just about any subject without government restrictions. If you go on just about any social networking site that's exactly what you see / hear.

However, there's not one regulation that says a company has to hire someone who decides they can mouth off on anything to include degrading, rude, offensive and generally rude commentary. To say nothing of the idiots posting all sorts of debauchery......

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 11:46 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:46:00 -0400

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR. Smart employers can and must do their due diligence background check homework to verify the background and possible risks that may be presented by potential new hires. . . keeps us from being sued. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 23 at 2014 11:58 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:58:50 -0400

It's smart. I research anyone my daughter is interested in, so it's fair game.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 24 at 2014 1:23 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:23:20 -0400

I think it's a tool to use, but shouldn't be the only determinant of whether you hire someone (unless it's something that is totally outrageous and would put your business at risk). If the applicant has the skills you are looking for and understands that personal life will not impact their professional career, I don't think it really matters.

Response by CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR made Sep 24 at 2014 3:37 PM

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:37:27 -0400

Remember it is a two way street we as potential employees should check the social media of the companies that we are considering to work for as well to make sure they are aligned with our own values.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 4:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:56:29 -0400

A good thing to do is to do a google search on your name. You can also tell the search engine to remove an image or post. it may take a while but best that you see it and remove it before someone else sees it.

I once commented on some Chicago tribune articles and mistakenly put my whole name in and it showed up on a search. This was many years ago, but it showed that what you post online can follow you.

Also forums best to keep a fake name don't put your name, but maybe "sexychocolate1234".......LOL, and make sure its not your email address because that can be followed. [login to see]

I don't have twitter and keep my Facebook privacy updated. Anyways. I don't post anything that would kill a job prospect. Plus having a name like mine is easy to search than John Smith........LOL.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 6:18 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:18:52 -0400

I want to point out that employers are using social media for illegal discrimination. Questions that employers are not allow to ask can often be clearly answered by your social media activity. For example, whether or not you have kids, whether or not you are married (or have ever been divorced, or are in an interracial marriage), which political party you affiliate with, and more. They can see that you enjoy hunting or have guns, that you drink, that you have been to Vegas - all perfectly legal activities that can be negative for some employers. They can see that maybe you have some family issues like a sick parent/child, custody dispute, etc.

In this highly competitive employment environment, you should think about how seemingly innocent pictures might be perceived. I have pointed this out before, but I used a picture of myself and my kids at Hershey Park as my FB avatar and my cover photo was a picture of my platoon in Iraq holding up the flag. The avatar picture implied I was a single mother. The cover photo could have suggested support for the Iraq war or a political party, and as a Guard Member, it highlighted the depth of my loyalty to my other employer. I was unemployed for 8 months and in that time I had only one interview. Within a few weeks of changing my FB pictures I had half a dozen interviews and landed a job. Might of have been a coincidence, but I recommend you have an objective friend look at your pictures and tell you want they think it all says about you.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Sep 25 at 2014 11:26 AM

SFC Stephen Hester — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 11:26:42 -0400

Social media profiles are not private regardless of what we want to believe when we make the "private". Employers can, and will, search for social media content that will provide an idea of who a job candidate really is. If it's not something you would want your current or potential employer to see, don't post it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2014 8:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:28:37 -0500

Sir, I believe that this is a great technique for employers of all kinds. It's like the old saying "Don't judge a book by the cover", except in this case it is vice versa. The person may look fantastic on the outside, during the interview, because they really want the job. However, that may just be a front. In the Army, they harp on being a well rounded soldier. So reviewing a social media profile may bring up some things that the person didn't show in the interview. Therefore, in my opinion, reviewing social media pages as part of the hiring/interview process is incredibly beneficial and a great way to pick the best person for the job.

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Dec 21 at 2014 11:47 PM

SPC Leisel Luman — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 23:47:56 -0500

Believe me they will search social media and thumb through your photo and friends. It's illegal for them to ask about marital status and how many kids you have. So they get the info online. I try to impress this on my daughter. Know that school admissions programs and employers WILl search internet.