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!!

There would be outcry in the U.K. if recruiters or employers were demanding your FB password before considering your application 🤣 it’s never going to happen

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

As a matter of course in the US. (Technically it's against Facebook/Hotmail/Gmails T&Cs, which would be my objection in the UK).

The problem is, if it becomes normalised, a refusal is just losing the job. Principles are great to have, if they cost you nothing.

www.procurious.com/procurement-news/employer-asked-facebook-password

Wow. Im so shocked they think that's ok

and

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-40592516

...

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

How would you deal with one that did ? No easy matter getting a tribunal hearing in the UK these days. Much less a court hearing.

My boss was looking at Facebook profiles of potential applicants recently. One bloke had a cover photo indicating that he was in to S&M, had shared loads of sexist memes, and frequently referred to women as “bitches”.

Erm, nope!

If a potential employer asks for your Facebook password, what's to stop you deactivating your account temporarily and just saying you don't do social media?

I don't even have my surname on mine anyway.

If a potential employer asks for your Facebook password, what's to stop you deactivating your account temporarily and just saying you don't do social media?

It's called "lying" . Regardless of what's on your profile, it's reason enough to P45 you.

It's not lying if you temporarily don't do social media.

The US now if you go there on holiday even have the right to ask for your social media passwords. I don't genuinely don't use twitter or facebook so would be okay both others would not.

The issue in law of whether something you do in your private life affects your work has never been an easy one. Some post office workers were fairly dismissed for being football hooligans at weekends. Solicitors now have to avoid comments which are derogatory of the other sex I think it is or something like that even if posting anonymously otherwise they can lose their career. An older solicitor about 70 recently was caught out with this if you just stick to facts and don't personalitse things and don't be nasty to people on a personal basis I think you are still free to express a view eg that Islam is sexist or there is no God but people need to be very careful what they say.

The US now if you go there on holiday even have the right to ask for your social media passwords.

Is this actually true?

If it is, that's yet another excellent reason to not go there.

I’m confused @DGRossetti, your link just brings up a page saying asking for a Fb password is a “wacky” interview question to see how the applicant reacts, with the advice being not to hand it over anyway

I recruit in the US and other territories.
I have never heard of this, and don’t understand why you think it’s usual.

USA - NY Times May 2018 says this www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/world/americas/travelers-visa-social-media.html

"Nearly all applicants for a visa to enter the United States — an estimated 14.7 million people a year — will be asked to submit their social media user names for the past five years, under proposed rules that the State Department issued on Friday."

I don't know if that includes the UK - but you certainly need to fill in that annual visa waiver document in advance in order to travel from UK to US so it possibly will apply.

"The proposal covers 20 social media platforms. Most of them are based in the United States: Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Myspace, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, Vine and YouTube. But several are based overseas: the Chinese sites Douban, QQ, Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo and Youku; the Russian social network VK; Twoo, which was created in Belgium; and Ask.fm, a question-and-answer platform based in Latvia."

Okay sorry I read on and does not so far include UK (although if they are questioning you at immigration they still might well ask for it)

"Citizens of roughly 40 countries to which the United States ordinarily grants visa-free travel will not be affected by the requirement. Those countries include major allies like Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea."

Its only proposed though

If I had used something like Pinterest in the last 5 years and didn't use it now, I doubt I would remember the username and password myself. I note MN is not on the list

That's insane. I make up new usernames all the time, I wouldn't be able to remember them under pressure!

Chollo they wouldn;'t be interrogating you for them. They'd be part of a visa application.

Oooh! I'm a shoe designer.... Shall I buy some shoes with my name on them?

I've googled my name and two people came up. One is a CEO and the other is an athlete! If you could all see me and knew what I do for a living you'd all be crying with laughter too! Think I'm safe.

But you may not be safe if an emplotyer has your date of birth, full address and a photograph of you as they then might find the real you on line (not that that matters if you aren't on line at all or you have only posted about a love of knitting rather than your hatred of the Tories just as you make your application to work as a secretary at Tory HQ.....)

what about setting your fb so non friends can't look?

I come down fairly low on Google as there are a couple of daughters of people in the public eye with the same name (though it's not all that common).

@MoanaMum - a question for you, given your position. My MIL and I follow one another on Twitter, she intermittently fusses that DH or I will lose out on potential jobs because there are sometimes swearwords on our Twitter feeds. These are all in humour, or hyperbole - never threatening someone or being aggressive or anything like that. Would any employer really go 'Oh, she retweeted a post where someone said "cunt", she's going to lead us into disrepute'?

Just googled my name. I don't use FB or any social media and I don't exist as far as the internet is concerned, which pleases me.

me either