I just got a rather annoying e-mail from a family member:
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I have blind copied several people on this since may apply to many of us.
Careless Facebook use may cost you a job
Thoughtless posting to SNS dangerous at the best of times
By J Mark Lytle, Tokyo
20 hours ago | Tell us what you think [ 3 comments ]
Generally, stating the obvious is a very annoying habit of far too many people, however when it comes to commonsense and social networking it seems like the imperative to be sensible is well worth repeating.
The latest example of what not to do online comes from a Reuters report advising us all not to give away too much on FaceBook or Twitter in case prospective employers find out about it.
Dead dogs
It cites a PR specialist, pointing out FaceBook posts about, “colonoscopies, dead teeth pulled, dead dogs, flatulence, adult acne, marital breakups, battles with mental illnesses and drinking problems.”
Going on to put that avalanche of banality in the context of someone looking for a new job, it concludes: “If this information can make friends cringe… imagine the impression it would make on a potential employer.”
Drugs as well
Throw in examples of people posting photos of themselves smoking drugs and making racist and/or sexist jokes and you have a pretty bleak picture of an online confederacy of dunces who’d likely never get up most days, never mind find a job.
Our advice, for what it’s worth – next time you’re considering putting anything at all personal online, just don’t; it’s tedious for us to read and might just stop you from snaring that big fat contract.
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I love the “I have blind copied several people on this since may apply to many of us.” part. I’m sorry but if you have something to say to me just come out and say it instead of “blind copying” stupidly obvious “news” articles in an e-mail. Last time I checked we were all adults here, even though we are not always treated as so. And another thing, if you are stupid enough to post on the internet about your drug use you don’t deserve to have a job anyway. Compared to most people I don’t have anything to hide or anything that would freak out any future employers. The only strike against me I have going right now is anxiety from my current job which I’m told most people can’t last a month at, let alone almost six. I am not one of those people that conceals parts about myself to please others, take me as I am or GTFO. I would love to see the look on this family member’s face if they read some of the things on this blog, heh. My family doesn’t seem to even care about my regular web page so I think it’s safe to say they’d never visit this lovely space I have created, probably for the best anyway since a number of them don’t seem to take reality very well. It’s a shame people are so uncomfortable with people being themselves. End rant.
