What does HR look at when checking facebook?

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bacillus1

bacillus1

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So I get a friend request today on facebook from Minnesota. I can't help but think, Minnesota=Mayo Clinic, one of the internships I applied for. I didn't add them but I sent them a polite message asking who they were. Then I noticed a disclaimer:

"If you send xxxxx a message, you will give her permission to view your list of friends, as well as your Basic, Work and Education info for one month."

So I was wondering, how strictly do they scrutinize facebook? I don't have any bad pictures on there, but do they actually look at your book and movie tastes and job descriptions and such to see if they like your tastes?

Also, do HR people google applicants? Again, no drugs or alcohol for me on google, but do people scrutinize your political views and anything else that shows up on google against their views and standards of decency? For example, some pictures of me with my shirt off may pop up for this contest where people put on muscle or lose fat or whatever (for money), so will people not hire me because of that? There is also things that people say about you in their blogs; could that be used against you?
 
When I had any hiring that needed to be done at my old job or student government appointments (back in college), it was a no brainer that we checked Facebook and Google. It was just too easy.

I've had this discussion with family members who are in a position to hire...they'll usually check as well, probably because it takes 5 seconds to do it.

How severely they'll get you will depend on who is doing the looking and what is on your profile. If you've got a hardcore liberal looking to hire and you have "conservative" listed as your political leaning, could be a problem....

I usually looked for comments/stuff that would indicate the person wouldn't show up to work on Monday. You know, those, "man I was so hungover I just called in sick" things. For student gov't, I checked for organization affiliations which I did not want to see get funded. Then again, that's just me, YMMV. Be on the safe side and clean up your FB!
 
bacillus1 said:
So I was wondering, how strictly do they scrutinize facebook? I don't have any bad pictures on there, but do they actually look at your book and movie tastes and job descriptions and such to see if they like your tastes?

Also, do HR people google applicants? Again, no drugs or alcohol for me on google, but do people scrutinize your political views and anything else that shows up on google against their views and standards of decency? For example, some pictures of me with my shirt off may pop up for this contest where people put on muscle or lose fat or whatever (for money), so will people not hire me because of that? There is also things that people say about you in their blogs; could that be used against you?
Click to expand...

I dunno.... I hope any topless pics of myself could help me get jobs!

I don't know if someone who you haven't corresponded with at Mayo would friend you already. I've been friended by people on the application trail, but they were people I had intensive e-mail discussions with first.

I have a friend who disabled her wall on FB. Knowing her personality, I assume she did it for the residency interview trail, but she won't answer the question.
 
Found out it wasn't a Mayo employee but a person who may or may not be an internet predator according to extensive googling. But still, it made me aware of the fact that anyone could be searching for me.

But I think I will remove "liberal" from my political views, and I asked the people for that site to take my article off, I don't know if they actually will. I read my wall and it seems safe. My job description was a little incrimintating so I'm glad I thought of taking it off.

I guess I should update my privacy settings so people who search for me don't see my facebook groups (I am in some political-ish groups).
 
bacillus1 said:
Found out it wasn't a Mayo employee but a person who may or may not be an internet predator according to extensive googling. But still, it made me aware of the fact that anyone could be searching for me.

But I think I will remove "liberal" from my political views, and I asked the people for that site to take my article off, I don't know if they actually will. I read my wall and it seems safe. My job description was a little incrimintating so I'm glad I thought of taking it off.

I guess I should update my privacy settings so people who search for me don't see my facebook groups (I am in some political-ish groups).
Click to expand...

Yeah good call...I just shut off my profile to non-friends and was done with it. My friend who works in advertising draws a strict line between social life (Facebook) and work (LinkedIn) and doesn't allow the two to mix.

I see faculty and residents on Facebook that are at Jefferson, but only an idiot would add them to their personal FB profile. You could always put them on a "limited profile" setting that's available as well.
 
Only a total ***** would not hire someone based on their political persuasion. If they make decisions like that, you would not want to work there as you have no idea what else they screw up.

You want to hire the best person for the job regardless of what color they are, what gender they are, what religion they practice (or don't practice) or what political leanings they have.

I think they are looking for immature and inappropriate content. Especially in areas that could effect your performance. Think drugs and alcohol. They would be looking at things that show poor judgment (like topless pics or pics of you doing something illegal) since they would not want you exercising said judgment while in their employ.
 
Limited profile :idea: problem solved.
 
Knipps said:
Limited profile :idea: problem solved.
Click to expand...

Only a fool believes that. Here is the solution:

Never post anything on line you wouldn't want seen:


  • On the front page of your daily newspaper
  • By your mother
  • By your significant other
  • By your employer
Once it's on line it's on line forever. Geeks can get it. Even if you erase it. Servers are cached and the information can be had even years later.
 
I've been wanting to delete my facebook profile but am just too lazy. Cat's out of the bag anyway.

It's not like I have any incriminating pictures anyway. Well, maybe one or two from like three years ago. Meh.
 
Just googled myself. The third entry is "SOP News Twester School of Pharmacy Valedictorian". LOL So NOT true.

Just goes to show that you get frequent garbage with Google searches.
 
bacillus1 said:
I guess I should update my privacy settings so people who search for me don't see my facebook groups (I am in some political-ish groups).
Click to expand...

One of my interviewers investigated which political candidates I had donated to, maybe from open secrets or a resource like that.
 
and what did they have to say about that? I'm certainly not ashamed of where I've given money and if someone would decline me for that I don't want to work for them.

Then again, I was at midyear asking all of the catholic-associated hospitals I talked to if they have Plan B in their ER....
 
SpirivaSunrise said:
Hah! 👍

What were their responses?
Click to expand...

One said, of course, they aren't strictly Catholic. The other said no, but will borrow under serious circumstances.

I have an interview at #1 and am waiting to hear from #2. #2 isn't super high on my list anyway, and I definitely raised my eyebrow at that answer. At least they will borrow it. That's better than nothing.
 
njac said:
One said, of course, they aren't strictly Catholic. The other said no, but will borrow under serious circumstances.

I have an interview at #1 and am waiting to hear from #2. #2 isn't super high on my list anyway, and I definitely raised my eyebrow at that answer. At least they will borrow it. That's better than nothing.
Click to expand...

Both are interesting responses, I think.

Anyways...I know I've wished Glycerin luck, but don't think I've said the same to you yet. So good luck!!! Hope you find a great fit! 😉
 
SpirivaSunrise said:
Both are interesting responses, I think.

Anyways...I know I've wished Glycerin luck, but don't think I've said the same to you yet. So good luck!!! Hope you find a great fit! 😉
Click to expand...

thanks! I'm looking forward to the interview trail. Interviews are stressful beforehand but I usually enjoy them.

3 interviews the first week in Feb on both coasts is a little :soexcited: and 😱 and :barf: simultaneously.
 
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