It’s not just criminals who are trolling social media sites for information on you these days – potential or current employers do it as well.
More than half of employers are estimated to have looked at the social media sites used by current employees to check out their “off-duty” activities, concerned about how postings and implied behavior might reflect on the company. Potential employers have also jumped on this bandwagon, also checking information to see whether a person is a good hire.
Ironically, 27 percent of those surveyed said they would feel uncomfortable if this were done to them. Thirty-seven percent said people change their persona online, so it doesn’t matter what you see on social media sites – it’s phony anyway, they maintain.
So if you are looking for a job, or value the one you’ve got, you should make sure there’s no “incriminating” posts on any of your social media profiles. Check out your photos and comments from friends, as well as your own commentary.
As for employers, they should be aware that they must comply with the law, and make sure they don’t violate anyone’s rights, and that they avoid dismissing someone unfairly because of social media content. This could result in a lawsuit with a discrimination charge. And if a company is pointed out as a “snoop and a snitch,” it could damage its reputation.
It’s not enough to guard your identity these days – you’ve also got to guard your reputation. Watch what you post.
