Posted on 05/06/2015 8:49:28 AM PDT by MNDude
I am in the process of hiring some candidates for some job positions. It's incredible what a wonderful resource FaceBook has been in helping me screen candidates and not waste my time interviewing (God forbid hiring) many candidates.
Ms. Smith: a cover letter showing enthusiasm. Resume shows relevant experience. I check out FaceBook. She has neon blue hair and a nose ring. NOPE!
Ms. Dow: A perfectly written cover letter highlighting how she's a fit for the job. The resume reinforces this. A trip to Facebook shows "B****es will F**** your man!" is the first statement she has posted on her page. NOPE! next...
Ms. Jones: Another nice resume. On FaceBook? "There's not enough coffee and middle fingers for this Monday" Lots of "F*** You" pictures posted on her account. Endless drivel and profanity. Lots of selfies of herself wearing very little clothes. NOPE! next...
I'm now at the point that a perfect resume for these guys might be a sign that a career center put their resumes together. No way they could have.
Ms. Anderson: Her cover letter and resume seem decent enough. I've learned that if possible, check out everyone on FaceBook to see who they really are. On FaceBook, I see postings of how she's excited to get a new degree from a community college. No garbage, just a lot of nice family photos.
Ms. Anderson gets the interview.
Yep...I’m an insurance investigator. Nothing quite like fb for pics of the guy with a back injury on bowling night or the person lamenting their car accident the night before they bought their policy and filed their claim :)
That's a pretty good question. I've had people tell me what they've seen on "my" Facebook page only to be embarrassed when they find out I don't have one.
As one of those that posts a lot of the things you say you turned away from, AND having at least one visible tattoo, I can tell you that it has NEVER ONCE impacted my work or what I do. In fact, I have been recognized as one of the highest and best performing employees on quite a few occasions. Fact is, I love what I do. I work hard, and I play even harder. As it happens, my play time often includes activities that would lead someone such as yourself to completely pass on even an interview. Shameful, at best. Ignorant, at worst. BUT, it certainly is your prerogative. I'll just sit back and laugh at all the potential talent you are passing up on.
Well, when I use Facebook it is to discuss things with (and keep an eye on) friends and friends-of-friends. I throw nothing open to the public, even “shared” things. Because I sometimes discuss hot button topics.
If these “perfect” resumes are getting written by services, I am curious why the services do not sternly warn their clients about Facebook, etc. Only show it to the public if you also do not mind your potential employers seeing it.
You could say many of these applicants have some VERY unique names. If it’s in the same suburb of Minneapolis, it’s them.
To be fair I have seen it work the other way around. I was asked to screen a technical candidate. I found his Facebook page. As wholesome as you might want. But in the technical interview he proved ignorant... I felt sorry for him but he even muffed softballs.
One would hope the viewer would attempt to correlate with locale if not more.
TMI
Facebook isn’t your problem. Your daughter with the sharing problem is.
Glad you got the job, but don’t you have any concerns that your kid is sharing YOUR info online?
Since the women you rejected had good resumes, it is more likely that they use LinkedIn for business networking.
I use FarceBook but not under my real name. A person would have to be cra-cra ;’)
It might be a good caution for job seekers who DON’T have a Facebook account (or whose account is nonpublic or innocuous), to check Facebook anyhow for name doppelgangers. If they are there, mention in the cover letter that thus-and-such on Facebook is NOT you.
“many of these applicants have some VERY unique names”
That’s an oxymoron.
By definition, the more unique the name, the fewer people you will find with them.
Most of my nieces and nephews have two facebook account. One, with their real name is for family. The other is for, well others.
I like facebook. I am old, and I use it to share family photos that I have collected over the years (tens of thousands). These are photos that few in the family would ever have a chance to see if it was not for face book.
(I spent seven years scanning every family photo album I could get my hands on).
“What? No men being considered?”
So far, the women have been much more expressive on FaceBook than the male candidates.
When I was interviewing decades ago just out of college, one company (IBM) actually was cutting photographs out of resumes that had them, for fear of appearing “biased.” If this is a live concern to anyone today, it seems to me that they would not be Googling you or looking you up on Facebook either.
It still remains true, that a job interview isn’t the only social function you might want to succeed as a newcomer to. And if you are an ass in front of the public on Facebook, those other people might see it too. Remember it’s Facebook, not Hidebook.
“Taking a chance” on someone is not good management. While it may be contrary to a popular adage, the cover can tell you quite a lot about a book! Without attacking you personally, a wise manager knows that evidence of poor personal decision making in ones private life is the best predictor of a proclivity for workplace screw-ups. If someone’s personal life is a mess and they display poor attitudes such as disregard for authority, complaining, etc. in a public forum, they will most likely make a poor employee despite their inflated modern self image.
Exactly. People seem to forget that tattoos and blue hair make me a bad person as much as going to church makes one a good person. In the end, I feel sorry for people that make snap judgements based on ignorant stereotypes that have been disproved time and again. But I’m still gonna laugh at them, too.
Other side of the coin: no social media presence whatsoever. No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Google, MySpace, or LinkedIn. Would grant that person an interview or be suspect?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.