Guide to Facebook Usage During a Job Search

Guide to Facebook Usage During a Job SearchGuide to Facebook Usage During a Job SearchPrivacy is an issue on Facebook, in general, but its even more of an issue when youre job searching. If youre elend careful, everything you deutsche bundespost on Facebook can be landseen by your current employer or a prospective employer. Inopportune comments and/or inappropriate photos have cost job seekers offers and have caused employees to be fired. Given the fact that just about everyone does use Facebook, its smart to take the time to make aya that what you post is seen only by who you want to see it, not by the world. If youre job searching or concerned about your boss or co-workers seeing your posts check your privacy settings carefully- both the general settings and the settings for each of your posts. Before you click to post, make sure its viewable by only the people you want to see it. Jon Gelberg, Chief Content Officer, Blue Fountain Media, shares tips for job seekers looking to bolste r and clean up their presence on Facebook. Content to Keep Private Dont post anything you wouldnt want your current employer or a prospective employer to see.Avoid any comments that could be interpreted as racist, sexist or discriminatory in any way.Remove or untag photos of you that show you in an unfavorable light. If you prefer not to, then be sure to carefully manage your album privacy settings. These control which people can see which of your albums.Look at your wall. Remove comments from your friends that seem distasteful.Look at the apps on your profile. Does their purpose portray you well? There are more than a few apps that may not be the best ones to have on your page when youre looking to get a job. What groups are you a member of? If you belong to Its 5 am, Im drunk, and on Facebook or any similar groups, you probably want to leave them. Privacy Settings Make sure only friends can see your photos.Make sure only friends can see your religious and political views.M ake sure only friends can see your posts.With the privacy settings, you are given an opportunity to preview your site, a feature that lets you see what the outside world sees when they access your Facebook page.Delete inappropriate Facebook apps. Social Media and Employee Rights Hope Goldstein, Partner withBryan Cave LLP, who represents employers in all aspects of labor law and employment law, shares her advice for employees and employers on what employees can post on Facebook and other social media sites, along with the issues employers need to be aware of when creating social media policies. Employees, regardless of whether they are talking around a water cooler in an office or on Facebook have the right to discuss working conditions. Stating your opinion on working conditions is a protected activity. Employees cant just post anything they want on Facebook or anywhere else. Libel or slander or posting comments about individuals that are not related to your work environment are not protected. Posting confidential company information, good or bad, is not protected. Employees need to be careful about what they post. You can still be terminated, even if you were right, if you violate a lawful company policy or the law itself or if your speech isnt otherwise protected activity. That is a lot to have to worry about, so if you have a legitimate company and your goal is to fix a problem at work, what often is the most effective is to follow the company policy for reporting workplace issues. Company Social Media Policies Employers should review their social media policy to be sure they arent limiting protected employee speech and to be sure employers are reasonable. Reasonable policies do include the right of employers to restrict use of company equipment and spending company time on non-work activities. These policies need to be consistently enforced.Employers should think twice before terminating an employee for posting information online to be sure they ar e in compliance with the law. When an employee is fired for posting on Facebook or another online site, they have the right to access the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for assistance. Representation will be determined by the basis of the termination and on whether the information posted was protected by the National Labor Relations Act.