ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > August > 06 > Entry
Sex, lies or videotapes ruining job prospects?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t let it be the reason why you aren’t hired!
As a job seeker we should all know the importance of a good impression in an interview, but with the Internet we need to be sure we know what happens after the interview as well. These days recruiters use the Internet to their advantage to avoid sending candidates that are not appropriate for their clients to interview. So they do a little more homework on their candidates in most cases.
Sex
Let’s suppose you’ve been searching for Mr. Right and have been pouring your soul to find the perfect mate on a risque video for a web dating site; make sure it cannot be linked to your resume.
Lies
If you have a personal website, be sure it is professional, accurate and doesn’t give out too much information to an employer. Give more honest information about yourself that you can’t put on a resume such as your hobbies or that you are President of PTA. Since you know they are looking, make it work to your advantage.
Videotape
If your Survivor application videotape is ready for submission, just be sure you are professional in the video and wouldn’t mind an employer’s knowledge of that information. You never know who’s watching so be sure to keep your private life your private life.
Be sure you are professional in your resume presentation, cover letter, interview and follow up and keep your personal life - personal, then you can land the job of your dreams. Don’t let the Internet wreck your chances of a new job; make the Internet your best friend in your job search.
Have you ever found out that a online dating profile or videotape has ruined your chances of landing that dream job? Ever had a white lie exposed because of your MySpace page?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Cerisse
August 6, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
A former coworker of mine was recently fired because she was caught uploading some rather distasteful pictures of herself onto her MySpace page. I am all about social networking but just be discreet and don’t do it plain view at the office!
By Mark
August 6, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Cerisse—
Can I get your coworkers myspace page and name???
By Charlie
August 6, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
Don’t lie on your resume. It will come back to haunt you!
By Shaye Breed
August 6, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget to include personal blogs, blog entries to others’ blogs, BBS messages, etc., when you’re thinking of what a potential employer can pull up. Remember that I can look up your e-mail address and find out if you’re posting on suicidegirls.com or the local paper’s blogs. My best advice:
1. Do a couple of Google searches for yourself (by any names you use and by your e-mail addie). Then you’ll know what may come up. 2. Get a free e-mail addie to use just for job searches (this avoids the Google thing, and also saves us recruiters embarrassment over having to ask if hotmama69 is your correct e-mail address. :P)
If your (less-than-flattering) pictures are on a friend’s Web site or MySpace page with your name, ask them to remove them or to use just your first name. (That’s probably a pretty good idea even when not job-hunting.) Remember, it’s just a picture of you drinking a beer to you, but it’s a picture of you drinking a beer to someone who disapproves of beer, too, with wildly different ramifications if that disapproving individual is a recruiter or poterntial employer.
By Job30339
August 6, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
This is a wonderful topic! I suggest that if you have a myspace profile that you set your page to private. It will save you a lot of time and a lot of questions. Also if you must blog please do not use your real name or real email address. I love to blog and I have a myspace account but I use a different address for each one. You can never be too careful these days!
By yypufqcxie
August 28, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you!