10 Aug, 2009
Be Careful What You Post Online, Career Counselors Warn
NEW YORK (Reuters) - People concerned about their careers should be extra careful about what they post on the Internet during a recession, career counselors say.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and other venues present numerous opportunities to sabotage your hunt for a job or promotion at a time when employers can afford to be picky.
"With social media, you can be vapid, boring and annoying with alarming frequency," Patricia Vaccarino, owner of a Seattle public relations firm, warned clients in a newsletter.
Vaccarino said many of her Facebook friends have posted "in great detail about their colonoscopies, dead teeth pulled, dead dogs, flatulence, adult acne, marital breakups, battles with mental illnesses and drinking problems."
If this information can make friends cringe, she added, imagine the impression it would make on a potential employer.
Kurt Weyerhauser, an executive recruiter at Kensington Stone in Los Angeles, said one human resources department "found a picture online of a candidate smoking what appeared to be pot, and in another case a company found a few severely off-color jokes that a candidate had posted dealing with race and gender."
He said the blunders can be roadblocks to being hired, regardless of the candidate's ability to perform the basic functions of the job.
Hiring people with that kind of public record online may even put a company in legal jeopardy.
"If there is ever a problem with drug use or the harassment of coworkers the company could be liable," he told Reuters.
In some U.S. states, hiring or promoting people who have exhibited drug use or racist or sexist attitudes "could constitute negligent hiring or negligent retention," according to Weyerhauser.
Even innocuous postings can cause problems.
He cited the example of the single mother raising four children who posts about her day-to-day life, which might convince an employer that she is too tired and overburdened to be considered for a promotion that might require more time and energy.
Weyerhauser had one final tip. He urges job hunters to think about their email address.
"Nothing gives one more cause for pause than receiving a resume from an email address like 'BigGoofyRuthie@xxxxxx.com'," he said.
Story and photo taken from: http://www.reuters.com
Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.
How Should We Conduct Ourselves?
As today's story shows, our world is instantly connected. When we did something stupid in the past, it either took a long time for people to find out or they never did.
It is not like that now. With texting, twittering, and multimedia messages our lives can be an open book at the touch of a button.
While this can be a little discouraging at times, the apostle Paul tells us that "we should conduct ourselves in a worthy manner" regardless if someone is watching or not.
Paul didn't have the convenience of the internet or cell phones but it doesn't matter. Paul made a plea to the church in Phillipi to live as God was watching so he could be assured they were living the gospel whether he was there or not.
We should do the same.
- If you have been careless with your words and actions online, texting, etc... ask God to forgive you and with His help move on to a more godly lifestyle.
- Live as though you have an "Audience of One". The One being God of course. Instead of feeling like He is a big brother looking down on your every move, think of Him more of a loving Father who delights in your acknowledging His presence in your daily activiites.
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If your friends challenge your not participating in "questionable" online activities use this as an opportunity to share why you are doing it. Without being condemning, simply share that you are concerned with what God thinks about how you interact online. (Of course, as the article suggests it is a good idea for the future as well!)
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