If you are seeking employment, you might want to make sure your Facebook profile doesn't reveal any unflattering information about yourself. Nowadays, many companies check out potential employees' Facebook profiles before hiring them. If your profile picture is of you playing a game of beer bong at a party, it's probably best for you to take it down. Some employers are going as far as asking job candidates to provide their Facebook usernames and passwords. I have had my own social media privacy issues while searching for jobs.
A couple of years ago, I heavily searched for public relations internships. I was almost finished with college and wanted to add more experience to my resume. I must have applied for over 30 internships, but one stood out to me. It was a public relations firm in Chicago that specialized in hotels and restaurants. I was so excited when I got invited for an interview with the firm. I bought a business suit and read interview tips online beforehand; I knew I was prepared for the interview.
My interview went well. I was asked the typical interview questions, such as what kinds of classes I've taken and why I would make a good public relations professional. I looked the interviewer in the eye and gave good answers to all of the questions. When I got home, I had a pretty good feeling that I would get the internship. After all, I had all of the qualifications and aced my interview.
A week later, I received a phone call from the human resources representative. Unfortunately, she told me that I didn't get the job. My mouth opened from shock. I asked her why I wasn't selected for the position. She told me that she found an unflattering picture of me holding a beer bottle on my Facebook profile page. I couldn't believe my ears. Was I actually being denied this internship over a picture I put on Facebook? After I got off the phone, I just kind of sat in my room in shock. I still couldn't believe this woman actually checked out my Facebook profile to see if I had good character.
Once I got over the shock, I removed that photo from my Facebook page. I still didn't think a photo of me drinking proved that I wouldn't be a good employee, but I knew I had to remove it to be considered for future jobs.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-person-facebook-photo-cost-internship-125700164.html;
A couple of years ago, I heavily searched for public relations internships. I was almost finished with college and wanted to add more experience to my resume. I must have applied for over 30 internships, but one stood out to me. It was a public relations firm in Chicago that specialized in hotels and restaurants. I was so excited when I got invited for an interview with the firm. I bought a business suit and read interview tips online beforehand; I knew I was prepared for the interview.
My interview went well. I was asked the typical interview questions, such as what kinds of classes I've taken and why I would make a good public relations professional. I looked the interviewer in the eye and gave good answers to all of the questions. When I got home, I had a pretty good feeling that I would get the internship. After all, I had all of the qualifications and aced my interview.
A week later, I received a phone call from the human resources representative. Unfortunately, she told me that I didn't get the job. My mouth opened from shock. I asked her why I wasn't selected for the position. She told me that she found an unflattering picture of me holding a beer bottle on my Facebook profile page. I couldn't believe my ears. Was I actually being denied this internship over a picture I put on Facebook? After I got off the phone, I just kind of sat in my room in shock. I still couldn't believe this woman actually checked out my Facebook profile to see if I had good character.
Once I got over the shock, I removed that photo from my Facebook page. I still didn't think a photo of me drinking proved that I wouldn't be a good employee, but I knew I had to remove it to be considered for future jobs.
*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a careers story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles
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