Since when has social media been so influential on deciding a career? What is it that could possible be so bad for someone not to hire you? Can we tell the difference in what is appropriate and what isn't? These are several questions I have asked myself while looking back through old Facebook pictures even though some of them were more than five years ago. Applying for a job isn't all what it seems. You go through your traditional interview one on one and then they apple their own type of interview. Recently employers go online and try and find the real person that they have interviewed. They look at the way that person conducts themselves; whether it be the clothes you wear or the people you speak to. Language is another determination. No one wants to hire someone when they see, right in front of them, the bad grammar and inappropriate language. It isn't a smart idea to post pictures of yourself drinking or doing any kind of drug. The employer can go back years into your Facebook and see old pictures and old posts. It's easy for the person to look up your old jobs and easily call them to find out your abilities and shortcomings.
What ever happened to second chances and people makes mistakes? Apparently that doesn't matter. It really makes me rethink what I post on all my social media. I've never posted anything inappropriate but I never thought it would be harmful to post being out and having a couple drinks.I can see how they wouldn't want a client or customer to see you out drinking when they look at you in a professional manner.
What's the one thing you should never do during an interview? It should be a very simpl
e and common sense answer. You should NEVER lie. Never lie about your work experience. That is the one thing they're looking for and if you lie than you are out of the "possibilities" list and into the "no way" list. My mother always called Facebook the "devil" and now I'm understanding how it could be. There are positives and negatives to everything but I never realized how harmful it can be.
There can always be a positive to every story. I try to conduct my Facebook the way I like to appear in public. I surround myself around the things that are important to me which would be family and friends. My family is everything to me. Employers also want to see your creativity. Maybe with how you choose to pick your profile picture. They want someone conservative but hard working, not someone who puts up pictures of them bonging a beer.
It also gives them a better understanding of who you are. The types of clothes you wear, how you wear them, and even how you do your makeup applies to this personal interview. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone when you look at pictures and comments.
Soooo.........the next time you take a picture, with yourself in it, then think clearly about how of whether you should put it up or not because in some way they will find it.
You make some good points in your article. As a former manager, I searched my interviews on the web. I was and still maintain the opinion you put yourself out there in the best light. A picture or two of you having drinks does not turn me off, as I love craft beer tastings. That is way different than pictures of wild parties and your entire online profile being that of party central.
ReplyDeleteIs it truly fair, I do not know, but I do know as a manager you are responsible for the turn over in your department, so you want the best fit of the best people possible. Since most companies have policy of telling very little of a person that worked for them, all you can determine is that the person worked there on the dates they stated. A manager must use the resources at hand.