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Concerned about potential employers online search

8 replies

CaroloftheBellends · 03/06/2025 17:05

I’ve just applied for a job (in an educational setting) which I am qualified for, have plenty of recent and relevant experience and overall I was feeling rather optimistic. At the bottom on the advertisement it mentions that potential shortlisted candidates will be subjected to an online search. Here in lies my problem.

Unfortunately, I share a name with a lady who does sex work, and a quick google of my name brings up all her sites and social media pages where she advertises her work. I’ve always been very careful to never use my name for anything online, so nothing relating to me turns up at all. Anyone who meets me wouldn’t have a problem telling the 2 of us apart, as we look nothing alike, however shortlisting takes part before interviewing. My only hope is that they’ll see on one of her pages that she’s Scottish and always lived there, and my application is very clear that I’ve always been in the local area, which is as far as you can get from Scotland and still be mainland UK.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? How screwed am I?

OP posts:
MigGril · 03/06/2025 17:09

I would actually let them know beforehand, if it's clear it's not you due to location then just tell them. They should be able to look at it and tell.

nocoolnamesleft · 03/06/2025 17:10

I’d let them know.

Poopeepoopee · 03/06/2025 17:11

I can't see this being a problem at all.

I doubt very much that am employer will mistake a sex worker from Scotland to a potential teacher from Bristol. When they see it they'll know its not you.

SoScarletItWas · 03/06/2025 17:11

Let them know. I have the same issue, by the way. Quite a few people with my name including a porn star.

IDontHateRainbows · 04/06/2025 00:25

Jeez that's an embarrassing first conversation with a potential employer! I'm not sure I'd have the guts to broach it myself!

EBearhug · 04/06/2025 00:59

I share my name with more than one person online, though not, AFAIK, anyone involved in anything dodgy, though I've not googled myself for a while.

Many people don't have unique names. If employers are doing online searches (and most do these days,) they should be aware of this.

I'm not sure I'd want to forewarn them or not in these circumstances, though.

Marchitectmummy · 04/06/2025 01:14

They will ask you for all of your handles to carry out a SM search. Give them and that's it, no need for more than that, you have a name another has well that's not unheard of.

PoopingAllTheWay · 04/06/2025 01:33

Marchitectmummy · 04/06/2025 01:14

They will ask you for all of your handles to carry out a SM search. Give them and that's it, no need for more than that, you have a name another has well that's not unheard of.

Handles? Really?
All my SM accounts are private with not even a profile picture so what do they think they would achieve by ‘trying’ to look at these?

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