Job hiring based on social media indirect discrimination

[Boudiccaofsteel]

I am currently looking for a new job: not easy as an older woman and everything I see is how recruiters look at Linked in for recruitment and expect to see social media and view anyone without it adversely Now my job requires a lot of professional discretion and confidentiality so I can't give a lot of details about previous work at the best of times. I am also highly aware of personal security .. this of course not just affects women as men too can be targeted not only because of things they do in their jobs but I have also always been very aware of phishes and fraudsters getting information about people to try and hack firm systems etc. I'm of the generation that is very very cautious about putting information in the public domain. It's struck me though that with the epidemic of violence against women and girls there will be a disproportionate number of women who have to keep a low profile on professional social sites. It seems to me the recruitment industry needs to be aware of this and perhaps employers as well expecting their staff to be out there ( in the days when I employed people I would have been very aware of keeping staff safe)

Would be interested in hearing what any recruiters think about this and whether if they see a bland profile on linked in they understand that it may be bland for good reason

There’s a difference between a bland profile on Linked In and just a Linked In profile without social media. I’ve been involved in recruitment for a few different jobs and have never known of it being seen negatively to not have social media links there, we don’t really care about your Instagram pics or Facebook holiday photos, but if there’s no information on your Linked In we don’t know how suited you are to the job basically (if that’s how you are looking to apply). Think of Linked In as like a virtual CV!

Exactly. LinkedIn is your living breathing CV ++ as it also shows your networks; and if you post occasionally, can show some of your professional attributes and values.

It’s not essential but it helps and employers including me do look at candidates profiles to get a flavour of them. Often the CV layout on LinkedIn is easier to scan read than the actual CV people send in with their job application. So candidates who use it have an advantage over those who don’t.

Appreciate it hard but it will be advantageous if you can add a bit of colour and detail to your LinkedIn profile, perhaps share a professional article or academic paper which resonates to show you’re current and up to date.

However I would be very put off by someone who used LinkedIn like personal social media. Only posts relating to your career / profession / workplace matters please!

But the whole point is there is a huge difference between sending a known recruiter a confidential CV in a private exchange and connections for the whole world to see!

I find it baffling that people cannot see why women would not want to put a lot of information about where they are working and who their contacts are to the world at large . If you have a serious professional job that relies on discretion and confidentiality the last thing you would want is being indiscreet and talking about what you do at work to the world at large

. What of those that work in a security role or have been victims of domestic violence ? Or stalkers ? Sometimes people"s work exposes them to a need to travel to places where there is a serious risk of kidnap to the extent that companies have to take additional precautions and the more information that can be gleaned about you the more that can be used against you. No wonder there are so many cyber attacks and fraud when people put all this information out there

id just like those of you recruiting or employing to just consider why a woman might have an incredibly bland profile on Linked in; it's certainly not indicative of our experience. Companies used to be able to employ the right people before social media ..

OP thanks for your reply.
There are always exceptions to general practice and trends and you are clearly one.
I would say I work in a very politically sensitive field for an international organisation and while I have a public facing profile I certainly don’t have details out there of what I work or where I go. Just employer name, job title showing seniority and short description of responsibilities. Plus some of my skills (eg languages, accreditations, negotiation, strategy etc). My professional contacts on LinkedIn are visible yes, that’s not a problem for me. If I had a contact with someone who couldn’t be made public (eg a political group which is sensitive, armed actors, secret service etc) then I assume neither that contact or I would be in touch using a public platform!
Anyway not sure if this helps you find a way to have a basic and very top line presence on LinkedIn, please ignore if not. Appreciate your frustrions, sadly it’s just the way things are now.

I had a weird guy at one point who really wanted to be in a relationship with me apparently who resorted to trying to get in touch with me on linked in when he was blocked on everything else. Because I wasn't really using linked I just deleted the whole thing. Some women (and men) have much worse experiences with stalkers and some are just private. It's not fair expecting everyone to have a profile on linked and a bit pointless really since most of the time a cv sent to the employer is just as good.

Also the sort of peoe who spend a lot of time on LinkedIn are usually somewhat unbearable.

These is so many times 'I am a woman I need special treatment' can be used I don't have a social media profile and I have never had it come up in job, I get jobs and I am older woman

I don't think women deserve special treatment. Men might have their reasons for also not wanting all of their lives on display online (men can also be stalked). There is an argument about whether one group is impacted disproportionately by stupid rules
But I think linked in is stupid.
Also women make up 50% of the population. Why are policies that take their needs/issues into consideration "special treatment".