Blog Post: The Internet Can Be a Trap For Job-Seekers

 Let me start by saying that I wouldn’t go back to the pre-Internet days for anything.  I am a heavy user, doing extensive research, writing, blogging, and buying about half of everything I buy.  But there are some pitfalls.  Here are a few and how to avoid them.

1).  What’s the difference between love and the Internet?  The Internet is forever!

Everything you do on the Internet is there forever.  Every post you’ve made on a blog, every photo you’ve put up on Facebook, and every website you’ve ever created (in every state) is still on the Internet.  The “Internet Way-Back Machine” at http://www.archive.org/ will allow one to see every website back to 1997, even obscure ones.  I have yet to find a website I cannot find on this site.  Every time I changed my professional website is on there, too.  If you want a hoot, look at Google in 1999.

But you aren’t going to be laughing if the site you put up in college with naked and drunk pictures of you is found by your prospective employer.  Prospective employers are searching the Internet for information on prospective hires.  If it is on there, they will find it.  There are even services that dig up all the Internet dirt on a prospective hire.

If you have “dirt,” it is best to get it out front, especially if you have been convicted of a crime or had some sort of court action.  These things show up on very easy searches that don’t require a skilled teenage hacker to find them.

2).  Emails can kill.  Well, they can kill your chances of employment, at least.

Some of the communication between prospective employers and candidates is going to likely be by email.  It is unavoidable.  Emails, however, can get very casual in nature.  It is easy to forget that this is a professional  communication between you and your future employer, not a “chat” between you and a friend.  Younger candidates, especially, seem not to understand that email communications can derail a job offer.

If you must communicate by email, make sure that you check spelling and grammar.  Assure that you aren’t giving too much unnecessary information.  Do not use “emoticons” or email shortcuts like “LOL” (Laughing Out Loud).  And don’t be hasty.  Unless you must immediately respond, wait an hour or two after writing the email and see if you still like what you said.

3).  Instant Messaging/Texting.

Everything I said about email goes double for IM’s or text messaging.  It is a truly bad idea that should be avoided.  If texting or IMing with a prospective employer absolutely  cannot be avoided, simply make sure that you are very, very careful in whatever you say on the text or IM.

4).  Facebook and MySpace.  Bad ideas whose time has come.

I expect howls from the younger crowd on this one, but it is truly a very bad idea to have a Facebook or MySpace account unless that account is maintained in a purely professional manner with no private information on it whatsoever.

These things are not private.  They are public knowledge, and they don’t go away.  You cannot run and you cannot hide from what you’ve done on these things.

If you must have a social networking account don’t post pictures of yourself in anything but a professional setting.  Don’t reveal private information.  If you aren’t comfortable with everyone from a prospective employer to your in-laws or future in-laws  to the government seeing it, don’t post it.

5).  Comments on Blogs can backfire.

While you’re at it, keep in mind that it might even be possible for comments that you leave on blogs to be found by prospective employers.  Until you are settled and stable I discourage posting controversial comments on blogs, especially those of a political nature, especially if you’re going for some sort of government job or a job with a government contractor where you must have a security screen.  I don’t know for a fact that the F.B.I. can search for these postings, but I wouldn’t bet against it, either.

6).  Illicit Romantic Liaisons.

Fooling around can not only ruin your marriage, but, if you’re in a variety of positions, especially an executive position, it can get you fired or not hired.  While this is a subject for whole other posting, your romantic liaisons a are no longer private, especially if you’re dumb enough to use office email, get involved at the office, or do something “high profile.”  Stay faithful to your spouse or get a divorce, but don’t cheat.  It is not only slimy, but also bad for your career.

These are a few of the ways that the Internet can interfere with your career path.  I may sound quite paranoid but, as someone once said, “If you’re not paranoid, you aren’t paying attention.”  Corporations are doing everything possible these days to assure that they’re hiring people who are safe, honest, and competent, and they’re using the highest tech tools available to do it.  Assume that EVERYTHING you do on the Internet is public information, and behave accordingly.

 John Heckers, MA, CPC, BCPC, is an executive transition and small business coach in Cherry Creek , CO .  He welcomes your questions and comments at jheckers@aol.com or 720.581.4301.  If you’d like a free résumé handbook, write at jheckers@aol.com, and put RESUME in the subject line.  We also have a monthly Free Executive Structured Networking Event on the second Monday of each month, usually in the Jobing.com community room.  For more information, please email John and put EVENT in the subject line.  For more information or questions on the executive interview, please call and I’ll be happy to get together with you.