Yeah, I know, it sounds a bit
paranoid, but many people fail to come to grips with the fact that one of the
simplest ways for a company to conduct a reference check on you is a Google
search and all that can be found so easily. I am not talking about your
professional presence, but rather the open window into your personal world -
often a bit too personal. What will they find? Most of us are online, and
social networking enables us to stay in contact with friends and family,
express opinions and so much more. Living on another continent, it allows me
fast and direct contact.
However, many people post without
even a second thought. Sure, it can be very entertaining for you and your friends,
but companies are watching or they have the means to check what you are up to
at any time they choose – whether they tell you or not. The same goes for your
company email and computer usage. The percentage of time people are online
during work hours, conducting personal activities is staggering. You’ll likely
get away with it, and most do, but when a company chooses to select someone to
scrutinize, the employee has provided them with the ammunition to use against
them. For example, I strongly recommend if a person wants me, a headhunter, to
assist them they should never send me anything nor conduct communications with
the work-related email address. I am even careful about text messages. I know
of international law firms – yeah, I said law firms, who monitor their
employees' mobile phone activities. And do you think they are the only
perpetrators? Is it illegal, yep, but that doesn’t stop it from happening and
you are naïve if you think those tools are not, or will not be used. One
obvious use against an employee I can think of relates to bonuses. I know of
organizations looking for reasons not to pay out bonus money due an employee –
especially someone who is leaving their employer for another job. They look for
an excuse such as misuse of company equipment and non-work related online
activity, especially activity related to looking for a new job or sending
resumes. Most companies have rules about personal use of company equipment and,
later, people act surprised when the rules are actually enforced. Furthermore,
when a person leaves their job a company routinely scans laptops when they are
turned in; what will they find on yours? I’m not suggesting you should never
use a company computer or email account for anything personal, but use your
head and consider what-if?
Another consideration is the
reference check to which I referred. It’s just so easy to express oneself that
we don’t even think about it. The same technologies that give us freedom of
expression can also chain you to what you’ve posted. Run a Google search and
let’s say you are on Facebook, most people are, unless your profile is set to
private you’ve left the door wide open. If you haven’t posted anything you’d be
worried people might see, so be it. But some people provide way too much
information for whatever reason. Here’s an example; I know a guy, and he’s a
nice person, and whatever mood he’s in he shares with everyone he knows. For
instance:
“…now i
dont have jack s**t. A crappy 32 hr a week job (supposed to be full time) goofy
hours (couldnt even have a life if i had money to) almost 4 bucks an hour less
pay. dont have money to even buy a decent set of
shoes. trying hard to not get the utilities shut off. bustin my a** on side
jobs just to pay rent. i wonder why i even bother anymore. give up on life..
go on welfare.. start drinking and smoking pot and just numb myself till it
doesnt matter anymore.”
I cleaned it up a little bit with
the asterisks because, after all, this is a family blog. Sadly, the poster of
the comment / rant is an intelligent, clever and talented individual. My
reaction is, “what is he thinking?” I know someone might say “Hey, Michael, I
will say what I want, when I want and it’s nobody’s business!” Well, yes it is,
and you willfully chose to make it that way. Ironically, lots of people post
stuff like this without a second thought and I can find 10 more like it with
little effort. Perhaps the individual who authored those comments would not be
happy I’m re-posting it on my blog but, too late, they’ve already been hung out
there for all to see and it’s now public information, in a public domain.
Okay, so let me ask you, if you
are considering hiring an applicant and during a reference check, find the
passage I noted above along with other similar entries demonstrating a pattern,
would you hire this person? Furthermore, even if you were a friend and you
wanted to help this person, would you be willing to recommend this person?
Further yet, if it is someone who is going through a difficult time and
frustrated that they can’t find a better job or someone to hire them, are they
not self-inflicting damage to their efforts? And lastly, what happens if his
current employer reads it? Even if later his mood shifts and he’s the happiest
person around, will it matter if his past self-expression is noted by a company
that might have chosen to hire him?
I’m not telling anyone how they
should behave and I am also active on Facebook and other social media. However,
I haven’t an ounce of pity for anybody who would sabotage themselves and then
complain about how unfair the world is. The extent of how little personal
privacy we have, considering all the technology at our fingertips, is an
ongoing debate. However, you cannot complain if you hand someone reasons to
disqualify you as a job applicant – or affect your own current employment
status. Think before you click - on this subject a little paranoia is good
common sense.
Feel free to discuss this post in the forum(no registration required).
