CREATING A PROFESSIONAL PROFILE ON FACEBOOK PUTS YOU IN A BETTER POSITION IF YOU ARE EVER ASKED BY A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER TO REVEAL YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD. BY SIMPLY ADDING THE PERSON AS A FRIEND, YOU CAN GRANT HIM OR HER ACCESS WITHOUT REVEALING YOUR PASSWORD.BY JOHN A. CHALLENGER
As employers become increasingly selective about whom they hire, it appears that some are taking the bold step of asking applicants for full access to their Facebook profiles, which means handing over one's username and password. It is unclear how widespread this trend is, but one thing is clear: while social media has been |a boon to job seekers' ability to expand and utilize their network, there are many pitfalls associated with these sites that can derail |a successful job search.
PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
Hopefully, the trend of employers seeking access to candidates' private profiles is a short-lived one. As word of this practice has spread, the public outcry against it has grown exponentially louder. Several state legislatures are working on laws that would prohibit companies for making these types of requests and even the United States Senate is investigating. Facebook also issued a statement on its blog and is considering measures that would make it more difficult for non-members to access someone's account.
The vast majority of job seekers will probably never encounter an employer-made request for social media access. For the few who do, it is undoubtedly a very difficult situation. We remain at a point in the recovery where finding employment is still a significant challenge. Millions of job seekers have been out of work for six months or longer, with many job searches stretching to one and two years. If presented with the option of handing over one's Facebook username and password or being eliminated from consideration, many job seekers are likely to provide access to their profiles. Candidates who are currently employed or have in-demand skills, on the other hand, have the luxury of saying no.
As coverage of this practice expands, it is likely to prevent many companies from adopting it, due to the potential for negative public relations. The other benefit of the expanding coverage is that Americans will be more cognizant of their online activities and how they could impact their career and/or job search. There are plenty of people who leave their social media profiles open for all to see and give no consideration to what they post. It is important to understand that more and more employers are looking at whatever they can to inform the hiring decision. Whether it is a photo from a raucous college party posted on Facebook or incendiary comment on Twitter, employers are looking for anything that reveals more than candidates typically share in interviews. Even a seemingly innocent remark on a social or political issue could put your candidacy at risk, if the hiring manager doesn't agree with your view.
Check Privacy Settings and Clean Up
If you have not done so already, take the time to review the privacy settings for all |of your social media profiles. Make sure that only friends, family or other trusted members of your network can access your personal information, photos and comments. Alternatively, take the time to "clean up" your profile or create one that you would be proud to show employers. If you belong to groups that are related to your occupation or industry or if you post links to the latest news or research pertaining to your industry, you want employers to see this. If you have taken the time to create a |professional profile on Facebook, you put yourself in a much better position if asked to reveal your username and password, as you can grant them access without providing either. Respond by sayingyou prefer not to provide your username and password for privacy and security reasons, but that you would be happy to add the interviewer as a friend. You accomplish two things by doing this: |1) you avoid putting yourself in the awkward position of saying "no" to the interviewer; and 2) you add another person to your network. |If you end up not getting a job offer for some reason, you have befriended a contact in the industry in which you hope to work. If asked to hand over your username |and password and you refuse, whether out |of principle or out of fear that the content will disqualify your candidacy, you should do so respectfully. Your initial reaction may be one of outrage or indignation and you may have the urge to "tell off" the employer and storm out of the office. Resist that urge. There is a chance that the interviewer would not hold the refusal against you, but if you have a tirade about the request, there is little chance of your candidacy surviving. "I understand you want to make an informed decision, but I would prefer not to provide that information."
Another way you may defuse the situation is to ask the interviewer what he or she hopes to learn from accessing your profile and offer some other way to provide that insight. "Is there something specific you are seeking? I would be happy to tell you more about my personal interests and activities outside of the office."
John A. Challenger is chief executive |officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Next Week: Using Social Media to Your Advantage
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