We love new inventions, and the Internet is one of them.  Rank it up there with the light bulbs, the wheel, and 18volt power drivers on the list of AWESOME inventions.  But the Internet if vastly different than those other inventions–because YOU play a part in it.   Web-based services are now ubiquitous, and only God knows how many pages of info are ‘created’ each day.

Some of it useful - some of it just venting - some of it just frivolous. But the fact remains: Thanks to this wonderful invention, a permanent public record is created every time you post something.

Personal Web Sites

Websites for personal use, such as MySpace, Facebook, ClassMates.com in the U.S. and FriendsReunited.com in Europe, allow people to get in touch with old friends, and make new ones, too. And personal blogs are now about as common as those short white socks.

And while personal fun and frivolity can be a good thing – a danger also exists. Something intended to be private or done “in jest” can come back to haunt you for a lifetime.  

Think Carefully Before Posting

Gordon Cherrington of London-based Media Contacts says: “People should think carefully what they say about employers - past and present - and themselves in any online public domain.”

The reason? An increasing number of employers are using the Internet to check out applicants –and current employees! Not only are job offers being withdrawn, some folks are actually being terminated.

“You’re Fired!”

For example: After someone bragged to a former classmates that he got his current job by lying though his teeth–both during the interview and on his resume, his new employer happened upon the conversation during a routine search.  As you can imagine, the person was summarily fired.

Another had a job offer withdrawn when she posted comments to friends that she planned to be in town only for a few months.

Hopefully you’re not lying to or scamming your employers, but still, be careful what you write – whatever you post on the Internet can be made public, and you’d be surprised to learn just who is reading up on you . . . .

Share This

Filed in Technology, Workplace, Corporate Culture, Job Seeking, Interviewing, Retention