ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > July > 08
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sex, lies or videotape revisited: How the Internet can ruin job prospects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Moderator’s Note: Blogger Chandra Fox revisits this hot topic for BlogBreak, expanding upon her tips for avoiding the pitfalls of personal information on the Internet while job-searching.)
Most job seekers know the importance of a good impression in an interview, but with the Internet, we need to be sure we know what happens before and after the interview as well. Recruiters now use the Internet to their advantage to avoid sending candidates that are not appropriate for their clients to interview. Be sure to think of those late night blog chats, online dating profiles or videos of your Survivor application attempts and how they may have a link to your resume in some way. With a little web sleuthing, an employer may not have too hard of a time finding out a little more about you than you’d like, so be sure your professionalism passes the Internet search with flying colors by following these tips:
Sex
Let’s suppose you’ve been searching for Mr. or Mrs. Right and have been pouring your soul into a video for a web dating site. Make sure it cannot be linked to your resume. If your screen name and e-mail address are similar, change your e-mail on your resume to one specific to job search. Many people have e-mail addresses that have sexual undertones and use this e-mail on their resumes. It is inappropriate.
Lies
If you have a personal Web site, still maintain some professionalism so you don’t reveal inappropriate personal information to an employer. Make sure it compliments your resume, and doesn’t contradict it (so don’t invent Ivy League school degrees if you can’t back it up). Use a personal Web site to your benefit by giving more intriguing information about yourself that you can’t put on a resume such as your hobbies or that you are president of the PTA.
Videotape
Ready to submit your Survivor application videotape? Be sure you present yourself professionally and wouldn’t mind an employer’s knowledge of that information. Nudity, profanity and inappropriate behavior should be avoided on a video submission of any kind. Reality TV applications, Webdating sites and YouTube postings are the most likely places you may find yourself with your guard down. You never know who’s watching so be sure to keep your private life just that…private.
Don’t let the Internet wreck your chances of a new job; instead, make the Internet your best friend in your job search.
Have you ever had an Internet blast from your past wreck a job opportunity? Give us the details (but keep it clean).
