With the news that over 80 per cent of employers undertake background recruitment checks on potential employees before offering them the job, just how open should a person be on the Internet? More employers are turning to social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to get a better idea about the person they are considering hiring. While what a person does in their spare time away from a work environment should not have a bearing on their professional life, the fact of the matter is that it does.
You should invoke the golden rule of the internet: If you would not tell it to your grandmother, the internet probably does not need to know about it. It might seem like just fun to post pictures of yourself drunk and unable to walk but if you are looking for a new job, think about what sort of impression that will give any potential employers.
The same goes for how you conduct yourself online. Freedom of speech is one thing but being abusive towards other people online does matter as recent court cases have proven. What might seem like a joke at the time can take on a totally different dimension when viewed from the distance of time and in the cold light of day, so think before you type. Again, if you would not say it to your grandparents, it probably is not OK to say on the internet and it could impact negatively on your ability to get that new job.
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