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[Dreadful Scathe]

No. I think honesty is important in working life, and a dishonest employee or employer is potentially very dangerous. For example, consider the collapse of Barings.

But what I'm saying is no-one is 100% honest and being honest where it matters is something you can only judge from knowing the person, not from some text on a web site or even a C.V.

I wouldn't trust anyone who is prepared to wear a striped blazer

You're assuming that information obtained online is only ever treated negatively.

Not at all, thats just all I'm discussing as Bombay Sapphire only mentioned the negative aspects and that it ended someones chances of even getting an interview.

Yes, there may be something that a possible employer judges as positive, but that should never ever be the only reason for giving an interview, any more than "ooh her picture is cute" would be. So why bother even looking?

[MartinHarper]

I believe this comic is appropriate here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9601/df960124.jpg

Yes, there may be something that a possible employer judges as positive, but that should never ever be the only reason for giving an interview, any more than "ooh her picture is cute" would be. So why bother even looking?

Because it's information that can, along with other information about the candidate, be used to decide whether it is worth giving them an interview, and later whether they will get the job.

[Dreadful Scathe]

I believe this comic is appropriate here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9601/df960124.jpg



Because it's information that can, along with other information about the candidate, be used to decide whether it is worth giving them an interview, and later whether they will get the job.

"ooh shes cute" is a valid reason for giving someone an interview then? This suggests the opposite is also true - TUTI (too ugly to interview). Wonder if anyone actually uses that acronym

Speaking of not talking information on the net too seriously - this guys girlfriend took the gay sex pics on his myspace account seriously and left him - they were added by hackers ! If that had been a possible employer, in your words "they're not going to hire someone in the hope that their online persona is an elaborate hoax."

Like the cartoon. Yes it is appropriate, BUT if something did come up at interview at least you can discuss it - getting your CV binned is different and what we were discussing. Well, that and the possiblity of being sacked from your current job because of something you do in your private life.

A reminder here again of where this sort of nonsense can lead.....

[MartinHarper]

"ooh shes cute" is a valid reason for giving someone an interview then?

No, you misread my comments. You asked "why bother even looking {at a facebook page}". I answered. It's the same reason that one bothers looking at a CV: it's information that helps make a decision.

If that had been a possible employer, in your words "they're not going to hire someone in the hope that their online persona is an elaborate hoax."

Well, in my industry, we're not going to hire someone in the hope that they can't keep their account secure and their PC virus-free.

A reminder here again of where this sort of nonsense can lead.....

Yeah, that's a bit of a car crash. Those responsible are being sued. I'm still going to use my car.

[bigdjiver]

...Personally I think any employer who makes a pre-interview decision based on what they find on the internet, should really be looking for a new job themselves.

Can you honestly say that you would not reject anyone just based on what you had read of theirs on this forum?

[Dreadful Scathe]

YES, I can, even more so than what they post on a social networking site. The implication that you would reject anyone "just based on" what you read here is very worring indeed

[Double Trouble]

YES, I can, even more so than what they post on a social networking site. The implication that you would reject anyone "just based on" what you read here is very worring indeed

So if Rocky came to you for a job...you'd give him just as good a chance as the next numpty?

[Dreadful Scathe]

So if Rocky came to you for a job...you'd give him just as good a chance as the next numpty?

Indeed yes, in fact my experience with Rocky is that he is anything but a "yes" man and the sort of person that is quite employable. Despite the comedy beard

So whilst online experiences will colour peoples judgement, thats all you should let it do. Rejecting people out of hand based on information on an internet page - that they have not specifically said is representative of them, and something you should look at - is boneheaded, brainless, stupid, immoral and liable to rot your teeth.

I hope I'm clear

[Double Trouble]

Despite the comedy 'David Brent' beard

That's a little harsh DS.

[Dreadful Scathe]

That's a little harsh DS.

a visual joke is generally not improved by you adding the exact visuals for the reader

[Double Trouble]

a visual joke is generally not improved by you adding the exact visuals for the reader

Oh shut ya face.

[MartinHarper]

Relevant article I happened across:

You're a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well - WSJ.com

[killingtime]

Relevant article I happened across:

You're a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well - WSJ.com

I'm "King of the Honky Tonks"; that will do wonders for my employability .

[Dreadful Scathe]

thats just sad and very short sighted too, a search engine is not going to necessarily be the best way to find people in the future.

[Dreadful Scathe]

So is anyone on mySpace (the less attractive, dodgy, slightly seedy older uncle of facebook) we should have a poll. I tried it before facebook and thought "this sucks"

[Stuart M]

Relevant article I happened across:

You're a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well - WSJ.com

My name Googles well - 2730 when I checked (311,000 if it's typed in without quotes around it).

Unfortunately, it's mostly in reference to a Hollywood actress, and it's when they spell her surname wrong.

[Lou]

So is anyone on mySpace

Yeah. Me. But there's not much on it.

I just googled myself.

If I enter my maiden name, there's a total of 13700 links in all - so quite a common name. I appear in the first page of links, though (I won a backgammon tournament in 1994 ).

There's only 6 links if I use my previous married name (which is quite distinctive). 3 of them link to pages about me, or ones that I designed.

There are 1590 links to my new married name. But I'm not any of them.

[Dreadful Scathe]

that only goes to show that you really should have got married to Englebert Humperdink

Join Facebook then why dont you, and bring goth to the world a little bit at a time

[MartinHarper]

There's only 6 links if I use my previous married name (which is quite distinctive). 3 of them link to pages about me, or ones that I designed. There are 1590 links to my new married name. But I'm not any of them.

Time to take a leaf out of Cherie Booth's book then?

[Stuart M]

that only goes to show that you really should have got married to Englebert Humperdink

No, emigrate and start mingling with politicians, Lou. A marriage to the current US Senate majority leader would have transformed your Google score. Or the Australian Treasurer, could lead to you meeting all sorts of interesting people

I'll get my coat.