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6 August 2007
Are Social Networking Sites bad for employment opportunities? There is a growing popularity with social networking sites – including personal web blogs. But, thanks to this trend there is a good chance this can negatively affect employment and career prospects warned Org Geldenhuys, a director of Pretoria-based IT recruitment company, Abacus Recruitment. “The latest research shows that employers are increasingly using on-line searches as a way of screening potential employees, or even to check up on employees who are up for promotions. Having a personal blog that rants and raves about a political issue, for instance, could cast a negative light on a person’s employment or advancement chances.” A leading employee screening company, BackgroundChecking.com also sounded the alarm about this possibility, saying that the personal information, images and controversial blog-based comments that are uploaded to the Internet could have long-term implications. “People often make rash comments on their blogs, without giving the topic much thought. They do not think that this information could be accessed by their employer, or a prospective employer. Sometimes personal viewpoints should remain just that – personal – they should not be bandied about for all and sundry to read. Some opinions should perhaps be kept for dinner parties with friends – and not for publishing on the Internet.” Commenting in the press recently, BackgroundChecking.com managing director Steve Bailey, said: “We are increasingly asked to undertake media searches and Internet searches as part of our employee screening services and this looks to become a standard element in the future. The findings of these searches can provide valuable insight into personality and current and past events involving a particular candidate who has consented to background checks. "Users of these networking sites don't seem to be giving sufficient consideration to the fact that messages written in jest, criticism of current or previous employers, images of their weekend activities and their personal interests are in the public domain and can be easily accessed at the touch of a button, throwing their career prospects into turmoil. "Many employers now look at reference to their business within such sites as an extended representation of their company - and even the smallest negative depiction from a current or ex-employee can have a huge impact on how their organisation is perceived. This can, of course, have a direct impact when employment references are taken up. "The users of networking sites need to remember that information on the Internet is there long-term, even of the person removes it, and is not subject to any data protection or time barring. The interaction of such sites is often controlled by the originator. However, when other individuals ('friends') are nominated and given access, there is no effective way to prevent the subsequent forwarding or publishing of the contents of what was intended to be a private network.” Geldenhuys said the digital age has, in many ways, “opened a Pandora’s Box”. “On the one hand we keep bleating about the importance of our privacy – and the rights to our privacy – and yet many people willy-nilly bear their souls on the Internet.In today’s age, due toour technological advancement and our access to literally all information, people are going to have to be far more prudent when it comes to providing information on the Internet.” |