To remind people to google yourselves and manage your online image!!

[MoanaMum]

I am currently recruiting for two high profile posts in our company. I've had some great CVs and applications through, but if candidates think we won't google people and check social media they are a bit naive, and unfortunately it can really change the impression a potential employer is left with. So if you are looking for jobs, take a moment to go through what your FB page looks like from an outsider, your twitter, etc and do google your name!! Just come across one which, well, just wow!!

Photobucket!
Even back then pre paranoia i used my middle name and mother's sur name for photobucket.

DD was involved in the recruitment for a new HT at her high performing very serious secondary school recently. I googled the name of one of the applicants

Wow. I wouldn’t go throwing that information above it. Your daughter really shouldn’t have shared information about a candidate with you.

I was thinking the same!

I've googled myself many times. Never found anything about me ever because there are 100's of people called this name.

I’m easy to find online because I have an unusual name, shared by only one other person (or so I’ve ever found).

The other person looks like me, funnily enough. Fortunately she is in another country and everything related to her comes up in another language, so it should be obvious who is who.

My stuff is either to do with my profession, or local newspaper articles in which I appear winning trophies for my daffodils . Her stuff is sporty or motivational shite - I hope no one ever thinks the latter is mine! But it could be an awful lot worse.

Whilst I understand what your saying, you have made your point in a slightly condescending, holier than thou tone. Shame really.

Good point. I’ve recently been looking at a childcare website as we are looking for a childminder, there were some babysitters listed there too.
Quite a few have profile pictures doing the whole pout thing, or looking dressed up on an evening out, not embarrassing or anything but also not really advertising to me how great you are with toddlers on a wet Wednesday afternoon while their mum’s at work.
I tended to go for the ones with pictures of toys etc first.
Just thought I’d mention that in case people are also using websites with a profile photo and want to get more interest!!

I'm amazed by the things some people say on Linkedin!
A few people treat it like Facebook, and it's so cringy.
How dumb do you have to be, to post sexist jokes or bitter sounding pa gripes on Linkedin of all places????

When I google all the name possibilities I have (nickname, maiden name etc) it appears that my alter egos all lived in the 1700-1800's. I am both male and female. I am American. I am very much dead!

No chance of finding me anywhere

My dh shares his name with a not so famous dj He is not a dj.

I can't remember what mine comes up as, better check.

It's a fair point ... I was recruiting nannies and genuinely torn between two. Checked out their Facebook profiles and the younger one had a profile pic of her drinking 2 pints of snakebite and black... didn't go for her. I did mention it to the recruitment agency though as a learning point. Not going to leave my 18m old with someone if there's an iota of doubt.

Dd has mental health issues and when we got the name through of her new psychiatrist, I googled it to show dd what she looked like - v unusual name and only one on FB. Her entire profile was cleavage, tits out stuff. No mention of career so I thought it couldn’t be her. Dd and I go along for the first appointment and it is her! Looking v demure in a blouse and skirt. Anyway she turned out to be amazing and dd loves her but isn’t that such a dumb thibg to do in socisl media with that kind of career?

Because of the peculiarities of Google, my name doesn't link to me personally. If you modify it a bit, you get my FB page, a couple of small businesses, two bits of journalism from a decade ago, and a dead American.

I googled my name and just got pictures of a MMA fighter. Clearly not me! Also lots of adverts for fortune tellers.
All my social media is private and I'm clearly a very boring person so there's nothing to see.

Those who think they cannot be found be aware of

1. Reverse picture searching on google - the recruiter can take your photo - if you supplied one for the job and stick it on google and search it.
2. Address - giving your address on your CV will narrow you down quite a bit and for £3 they can do a Land Registry search of the public land register if you own a house.

I wonder how long until people say its discrimination to not accept me for a job based on my views, like the Britain first guy?

I wouldn't have accepted them either, but I think that will happen eventually.

If you google my name you get a lot of pictures of porn stars!

On the other hand there are possible discrimination issues. Someone's Facebook profile could indicate things like their sexuality or religious views, things an employer may not discriminate based on and is best if they avoid even knowing.

I don't understand why people don't put their Facebook settings to private ...

I don't understand why people don't put their Facebook settings to private ...

Because some companies (more US based, but remember what happens there, comes here) take that as a no-no in itself. Remember nothing to hide if you've nothing to fear.

And, again, in the US, having a private profile is no good if a recruiter demands your password(s) to check it out anyway.

Probably best just not to have Facebook, I manage perfectly OK without it

I wouldnt work for an employer who asked for my facebook password.

Or deal with a recruitment agency who asked!

Asking for your Facebook password is like asking for your email password so they can check them.

So they want to see private messages and what you post for friends??? Do any employers or recruiters actually ask this??