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Was it really only a few years ago that we lived without Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs and LinkedIn? The rapid development of social networking sites has provided a major bridge between our private and public lives. What we previously shared only with family and close friends has now become a very public record of our thoughts, actions and behaviors.
Log-on to Facebook and you probably drop much of your professional demeanor for a more laid back and casual personality. However, when you log-on to LinkedIn, you probably focus more on your professional identity. While we would like the world at large to recognize the difference between our two demeanors, unfortunately that’s simply not possible.
While social networks by definition allow you to stay connected with other people, they also allow anyone to do a quick background check and form an impression of who you really are and what may be your dominant behavior. And, employers are using these sites more and more to vet the overabundance of potential candidates in the marketplace or as a method of assessing whether someone is deserving of a promotion.
As part of the evolution in social trends, the horror stories of bad decisions using social networks has begun to increase. Consider the mistakes of the following people.
• Candidate A, who has been unemployed for 7 months, interviews for a great job and is shortlisted to the final 3. As part of their normal vetting process, the Employer searches all social media sites for background information on all 3 finalists. The photos of Candidate A at his best friend’s bachelor party were more graphic than the Employer could deal with and he was removed from the short list.
• Imagine the shock of Candidate B when told at his initial interview that the off-color jokes posted on his Facebook page should be removed if he hoped to be considered for any employment opportunities.
• What was the attorney thinking when she asked for a continuance because of her father’s illness only to be found out by the presiding judge saw the Facebook episodes of her partying the night before?
• Why did the secretary feel compelled to Twitter how obnoxious her boss was and what animal she thought he looked like? And, imagine her shock when she found herself packing her desk.
Remember when you log-in to your social network sites, that even if you think that what you post (pictures or text) is private or meant for only select people, chances are anyone with limited networking skills will be able to view it. Whether the site is meant for personal or professional associations, the boundaries are truly blurred on what is appropriate. Your best approach is to be sensible and a little practical about what you post. While the 1st Amendment issues relative to social networking will continue to be debated, you should consider and decide the ramifications on your career.
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