That applies to eventual significant others and all the fun that can bring, but also potential friends and even potential employers. So it turns out you shouldn't take it lightly after all, and certainly don't use the default picture. Put something fun!
Here is a list of Facebook photos that will apparently get you defriended so fast it will make Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales (Credit to Philip J. Fry).
I have no problem showing you my timeline - I guess I should change Stubbs the Zombie up there so people will like me better, but I just like that picture! I don't even smoke.
So come on, be honest, did you put a lot of thought into your profile pic? Are you second guessing it now?
Honestly, this kinda makes me uneasy. Not that I have anything to hide from the public or anything. I just feel that what is on your profile page, in regards to employers, does not depict how you are as a worker.
ReplyDeleteFor instance if my sense of humor is sick and twisted to one person, however, I'm a dedicated worker and I'm diligent in getting a job done I find that using a profile page to determine if someone is fit for a job is highly judgmental. Although it is a great tool to be able to pick out the weirdies as well as good potential employees.
I actually went to my profile on Facebook and have been trying in between posts to make all my timeline private now.(lol)
On another note or the same note for clarification, I think if an employer determines whether or not to have an interview with a potential employee by looking on their profile page is where I feel employers can be overly judgmental. Especially if they have the qualifications for the job and they have good credibility from other employers, just because I say something "out of line" on the internet should not determine whether or not I get a job, unless I am bullying or abusing people on the net.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. If an employer decides to hire or fire you because of your profile on Facebook it is unnecessary (unless of course one poses some sort of threat to their business, employees or anyone else out in the world).
DeleteThere are two sides to this however. The first side is that one's personal life should not interfere with their professional life so if things are said over the internet, it should not directly effect a person's success in getting the job. Employers not allowing one to have personal time means they are getting too involved in their employees' personal lives. The second side is that it is understandable that an employer wants to make sure their employees are setting a good example because after all it is about their business and image and if someone walking down the street says, "Hey that's that person on Facebook that said this or that," that could potentially hurt the business because people are going to want to disassociate themselves with that particular business.
Facebook is a funny thing. It can definitely cause "drama." My profile picture is one of me, my husband and my son. Everything else on my profile is private. I don't think employers should look on facebook, but I do know that happens. Now that I think of it, I may change my profile picture to something creepy so that some of the those unkind people will de-friend me. Is that it takes? I should have tried that a long time ago. Haha
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Sarah! I should make my pic so grotesque even I wouldn't want to be on Facebook anymore. And it really is a definite 'drama' starter.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that employers will check facebook pages on applicants. I always just made sure my facebook page is private so no one can see anything unless they are a friend. I never thought about how people could have strong feelings about my profile picture. I now stop to think about my current facebook page and past ones. I have always had pictures I do not feel are inappropriate mostly because I have a lot of family on my page and do not want them to be offended. My current picture is of my sister and myself right before we ran the LA marathon last year. A picture of a zombie smoking could potentially scare away some of my family members from my page. Now that I think about it I do not think that would be so bad...
ReplyDeleteI do put some thought into whether I wanted my picture or not. I choose not have a personal picture but one with a blue dragon and the yin yang symbol. Now about what Veronica was saying on employers looking at your social media pages(some people have more than one). It is not right that being hired can be dependent on your Facebook page. Although if you consider that Facebook is also a place for social networking then the employer wants someone not messed up. In the business world what I have learned is that it can help if its who you know not necessarily what you know. I do know that my Facebook is locked up as tight as I can make it.
ReplyDeleteI did think about what picture I use only because I don't want to scare people off and I want them to see how beautiful I can look at times. I don't put pictures of my son as my profile but I do use his picture on my timeline. I never really thought about how others can influence people's comments. When I leave a comment on someone's post it's because I like what they had to say. Facebook is a key to communicate with others if they are not in your everyday life. I don't think jobs should look at your Facebook because your not the same in a work setting.
ReplyDeleteI rate Facebook about the same as I rate Google+. I'm also apathetic about profiles and have never bothered to post my person to Facebook.
ReplyDeleteCAVEAT: I have to use Facebook for my job. This requires me to `use face as ___________' and then go about admin tasks I have to do. So I guess that makes me guilty of faux pas number 1 since my employer appears as someone elses 'ROLODEX'.
My facebook picture is of me in a flapper dress at a costume birthday party for a friend. My timeline picture of is of a group of friends at my birthday party. That was all in late July so obviously I haven't updated recently. I understand the subtle mindset of posting these sorts of pictures. I never really did understand using fb as a method of turning people off from ones self.
ReplyDelete