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What to do with Facebook when applying for jobs?
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I've heard of employers searching applicants' Facebook profiles and was wondering if anything can be done about it? Facebook no longer has the option to make profiles unsearchable. I've tried setting minimum visibility, but checking from a non-friend account, I can still see quite a bit of my information. I certainly don't put anything embarrassing on my Facebook account, but, nonetheless, I don't make it for a professional representation and don't want it used as such. It's against Facebook's policy to use a fake name and I don't have any nicknames (or alternative spellings) I can use.
EDIT: for those saying "only post material that's alright for the public to see", then what constitutes "OK" for an employer? For example, should I not have a picture of myself responsibly enjoying a beer at a bar on Facebook? I have some pictures of me swimming, would it be unbeneficial to have an prospective employer see pictures with my shirt off?
job-search online-presence
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I've heard of employers searching applicants' Facebook profiles and was wondering if anything can be done about it? Facebook no longer has the option to make profiles unsearchable. I've tried setting minimum visibility, but checking from a non-friend account, I can still see quite a bit of my information. I certainly don't put anything embarrassing on my Facebook account, but, nonetheless, I don't make it for a professional representation and don't want it used as such. It's against Facebook's policy to use a fake name and I don't have any nicknames (or alternative spellings) I can use.
EDIT: for those saying "only post material that's alright for the public to see", then what constitutes "OK" for an employer? For example, should I not have a picture of myself responsibly enjoying a beer at a bar on Facebook? I have some pictures of me swimming, would it be unbeneficial to have an prospective employer see pictures with my shirt off?
job-search online-presence
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
3
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I've heard of employers searching applicants' Facebook profiles and was wondering if anything can be done about it? Facebook no longer has the option to make profiles unsearchable. I've tried setting minimum visibility, but checking from a non-friend account, I can still see quite a bit of my information. I certainly don't put anything embarrassing on my Facebook account, but, nonetheless, I don't make it for a professional representation and don't want it used as such. It's against Facebook's policy to use a fake name and I don't have any nicknames (or alternative spellings) I can use.
EDIT: for those saying "only post material that's alright for the public to see", then what constitutes "OK" for an employer? For example, should I not have a picture of myself responsibly enjoying a beer at a bar on Facebook? I have some pictures of me swimming, would it be unbeneficial to have an prospective employer see pictures with my shirt off?
job-search online-presence
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
I've heard of employers searching applicants' Facebook profiles and was wondering if anything can be done about it? Facebook no longer has the option to make profiles unsearchable. I've tried setting minimum visibility, but checking from a non-friend account, I can still see quite a bit of my information. I certainly don't put anything embarrassing on my Facebook account, but, nonetheless, I don't make it for a professional representation and don't want it used as such. It's against Facebook's policy to use a fake name and I don't have any nicknames (or alternative spellings) I can use.
EDIT: for those saying "only post material that's alright for the public to see", then what constitutes "OK" for an employer? For example, should I not have a picture of myself responsibly enjoying a beer at a bar on Facebook? I have some pictures of me swimming, would it be unbeneficial to have an prospective employer see pictures with my shirt off?
job-search online-presence
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
edited Feb 18 '16 at 10:52
Trang Oul
1136
1136
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
asked Mar 5 '15 at 3:33
Jimmy Bauther
629821
629821
3
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20
suggest improvements |Â
3
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20
3
3
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20
suggest improvements |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
15
down vote
accepted
There is a simple answer for this (although I admit it might not help you directly in your current situation):
Don't post anything on a public site that you would be embarassed for someone to see
Think about how your mother would feel when you post something, or friend someone.
You may think you are an adult, and can do what you like, but as you can see even with security, it's possible to find it if they want to (and the people who do these checks do it for a living so it'll be more than looking at it from a public account)
If you don't want it seen don't post it, or keep to a private forum.
This is the reality of a social media world.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I changed my Facebook name to something humorous/nonsensical. You can still get there by typing facebook.com/my.real.name so I don't know how well that works with searching but I guess it's less obvious. That was before I abandoned it anyway.
You should expect potential employers to see all public profiles of yours. These sites often have privacy settings, which you should fiddle with if you'd rather not have them snooping about your private life. Just remember nothing is private unless you explicitly make it so.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I'd advise you to have a deeper look at those security settings. When I was looking for my first job after college I changed them, now all non-friend people can see are my name and profile picture. Just make sure you aren't naked on this picture and you'll be fine
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I was never really part of a social network. The only exception was for signing in to other sites.
Here's something to think about:
The most talented people I ever met didn't have a LinkedIn profile and when practically forced to create one by the company, then it was a one-liner in the required fields.
Social Networks are horrible waste of time and usually evolve into something you regret.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
suggest improvements |Â
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
15
down vote
accepted
There is a simple answer for this (although I admit it might not help you directly in your current situation):
Don't post anything on a public site that you would be embarassed for someone to see
Think about how your mother would feel when you post something, or friend someone.
You may think you are an adult, and can do what you like, but as you can see even with security, it's possible to find it if they want to (and the people who do these checks do it for a living so it'll be more than looking at it from a public account)
If you don't want it seen don't post it, or keep to a private forum.
This is the reality of a social media world.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
15
down vote
accepted
There is a simple answer for this (although I admit it might not help you directly in your current situation):
Don't post anything on a public site that you would be embarassed for someone to see
Think about how your mother would feel when you post something, or friend someone.
You may think you are an adult, and can do what you like, but as you can see even with security, it's possible to find it if they want to (and the people who do these checks do it for a living so it'll be more than looking at it from a public account)
If you don't want it seen don't post it, or keep to a private forum.
This is the reality of a social media world.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
15
down vote
accepted
up vote
15
down vote
accepted
There is a simple answer for this (although I admit it might not help you directly in your current situation):
Don't post anything on a public site that you would be embarassed for someone to see
Think about how your mother would feel when you post something, or friend someone.
You may think you are an adult, and can do what you like, but as you can see even with security, it's possible to find it if they want to (and the people who do these checks do it for a living so it'll be more than looking at it from a public account)
If you don't want it seen don't post it, or keep to a private forum.
This is the reality of a social media world.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
There is a simple answer for this (although I admit it might not help you directly in your current situation):
Don't post anything on a public site that you would be embarassed for someone to see
Think about how your mother would feel when you post something, or friend someone.
You may think you are an adult, and can do what you like, but as you can see even with security, it's possible to find it if they want to (and the people who do these checks do it for a living so it'll be more than looking at it from a public account)
If you don't want it seen don't post it, or keep to a private forum.
This is the reality of a social media world.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
answered Mar 5 '15 at 10:10
The Wandering Dev Manager
29.8k956107
29.8k956107
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I changed my Facebook name to something humorous/nonsensical. You can still get there by typing facebook.com/my.real.name so I don't know how well that works with searching but I guess it's less obvious. That was before I abandoned it anyway.
You should expect potential employers to see all public profiles of yours. These sites often have privacy settings, which you should fiddle with if you'd rather not have them snooping about your private life. Just remember nothing is private unless you explicitly make it so.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
I changed my Facebook name to something humorous/nonsensical. You can still get there by typing facebook.com/my.real.name so I don't know how well that works with searching but I guess it's less obvious. That was before I abandoned it anyway.
You should expect potential employers to see all public profiles of yours. These sites often have privacy settings, which you should fiddle with if you'd rather not have them snooping about your private life. Just remember nothing is private unless you explicitly make it so.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
I changed my Facebook name to something humorous/nonsensical. You can still get there by typing facebook.com/my.real.name so I don't know how well that works with searching but I guess it's less obvious. That was before I abandoned it anyway.
You should expect potential employers to see all public profiles of yours. These sites often have privacy settings, which you should fiddle with if you'd rather not have them snooping about your private life. Just remember nothing is private unless you explicitly make it so.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
I changed my Facebook name to something humorous/nonsensical. You can still get there by typing facebook.com/my.real.name so I don't know how well that works with searching but I guess it's less obvious. That was before I abandoned it anyway.
You should expect potential employers to see all public profiles of yours. These sites often have privacy settings, which you should fiddle with if you'd rather not have them snooping about your private life. Just remember nothing is private unless you explicitly make it so.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
answered Mar 5 '15 at 6:23
rath
12.1k74368
12.1k74368
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
suggest improvements |Â
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
2
2
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
I've been taught that, once you upload something on-line, it's completely public, no matter what site you post it on, and what hardcore walls of privacy it has.
– Sharain
Mar 5 '15 at 10:15
1
1
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
Abandoning the account may not be enough. You should purge everything from it, then delete the account. Of course that may not stop your content from existing in other users accounts.
– mhoran_psprep
Mar 5 '15 at 12:46
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I'd advise you to have a deeper look at those security settings. When I was looking for my first job after college I changed them, now all non-friend people can see are my name and profile picture. Just make sure you aren't naked on this picture and you'll be fine
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I'd advise you to have a deeper look at those security settings. When I was looking for my first job after college I changed them, now all non-friend people can see are my name and profile picture. Just make sure you aren't naked on this picture and you'll be fine
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I'd advise you to have a deeper look at those security settings. When I was looking for my first job after college I changed them, now all non-friend people can see are my name and profile picture. Just make sure you aren't naked on this picture and you'll be fine
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
I'd advise you to have a deeper look at those security settings. When I was looking for my first job after college I changed them, now all non-friend people can see are my name and profile picture. Just make sure you aren't naked on this picture and you'll be fine
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
answered Mar 5 '15 at 9:19
ero
1,67468
1,67468
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I was never really part of a social network. The only exception was for signing in to other sites.
Here's something to think about:
The most talented people I ever met didn't have a LinkedIn profile and when practically forced to create one by the company, then it was a one-liner in the required fields.
Social Networks are horrible waste of time and usually evolve into something you regret.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I was never really part of a social network. The only exception was for signing in to other sites.
Here's something to think about:
The most talented people I ever met didn't have a LinkedIn profile and when practically forced to create one by the company, then it was a one-liner in the required fields.
Social Networks are horrible waste of time and usually evolve into something you regret.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I was never really part of a social network. The only exception was for signing in to other sites.
Here's something to think about:
The most talented people I ever met didn't have a LinkedIn profile and when practically forced to create one by the company, then it was a one-liner in the required fields.
Social Networks are horrible waste of time and usually evolve into something you regret.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
I was never really part of a social network. The only exception was for signing in to other sites.
Here's something to think about:
The most talented people I ever met didn't have a LinkedIn profile and when practically forced to create one by the company, then it was a one-liner in the required fields.
Social Networks are horrible waste of time and usually evolve into something you regret.
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
answered Mar 5 '15 at 19:57
ConfusedDeer
233112
233112
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
suggest improvements |Â
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
2
2
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
Mark Zuckerberg down-voted my post!
– ConfusedDeer
Mar 17 '15 at 20:36
suggest improvements |Â
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3
Perhaps you could remove the information that you don't want the world to see?
– Masked Man♦
Mar 5 '15 at 4:07
In answer to your edit, I don't think either is unacceptable. The rule I'd use is, would I be embarassed if someone showed the posting to my mother? no - fine, yes - if you need to post don't do it publicly.
– The Wandering Dev Manager
Mar 5 '15 at 23:20