Study: Facebook Could Cost You Your Next Job
It's been suggested that what you post about yourself on
Facebook and other social media sites could torpedo your job application. Now
a, in-depth study of employers from six different industries confirms it.
The study reveals that many employers are using the
Facebook profiles of job candidates to filter out weaker applicants based on
perception of lifestyle, attitudes and personal appearance. In other words, it
could keep you from making the final cut.
Facebook now has more than 800 million members world-wide
and has become one of the most popular sites for staying in touch with family
and friends. People engage in give and take, often making off-color comments or
expressing strong political views. It's all out there for a potential employer
to see.
The researchers from Florida International University
suggest that employers using Facebook to assess those applying for a job with
them are creating a new digital divide, as well as revealing how freedom with
regard to virtual identity is being encroached upon increasingly by the world
of work.
"While employers are using Facebook to monitor their
employees, they have also begun to use it as a screening tool when considering
potential candidates," said researcher Vanessa de la Llama and colleagues.
"Because this is a fairly new trend, a standardized set of guidelines has
yet to be established, with employers often assessing job applicants in a
subjective manner."
The research team interviewed representatives from the
areas of information technology, healthcare and wellness, education, law
enforcement, food and drink, travel, advertising and suggest that their
findings shed light on a growing trend.
They say they hope to raise the ethical questions for
debate surrounding whether or not employers should be using Facebook and
perhaps other social networking sites to screen candidates. This question is
this -- are employers overstepping the bounds of privacy, or is examining a
Facebook profile an acceptable way to gauge someone's personality?
"Job seekers should be aware that their future
employers are closely observing their Facebook profiles in search of a window
into their personality," the research team concludes. "Though this
practice raises many ethical issues, it is an emerging phenomenon that is not
slowing."
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