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Social Networking and Your Job: Lessons from the "Cisco Fatty"
Tania Khadder, HRGuru
March 24, 2009
Stalk yourself
Google yourself regularly to see what’s out there. It’s a fact – employers are googling their employees, present and potential, to gain as much information as possible. Former Delta Air Lines flight attendant Ellen Simonetti lost her job because she posted suggestive pictures of herself in uniform on her blog, even though she didn’t name the airline itself. And while you could argue that Ellen’s job loss was the result of poor judgment on her part, sometimes, your online reputation is beyond your control. Comments, reviews and media posted by other people may come up in a search for your name. If you stumble across something questionable, try and get it removed. If you cannot remove it, be prepared to explain it.
In an age where we feel the need to share every mundane thought or activity with the world, it’s probably smart to exercise a bit of restraint. When it comes to Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or any other social networking site, keep it absolutely private or keep it absolutely professional. At the very least, keep it classy. Your professional reputation is not worth jeopardizing over a snarky remark, however cute or hilarious it may seem. You might just find yourself laughing all the way to the unemployment office.