Would you tell these things to a hiring manager or recruiter?
“I am a little bitch.”
“I have two tatoos and want more.”
“I’m a night owl stuck in a daytime life. My ideal awake time would be from about 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.”
“I’m the most unorganized person I know.”
This is just a small sampling of what people on Facebook have been saying about themselves since an annoying movement called “25 Things About Me” started on the social networking site. Basically you’re asked by a friend on Facebook to write 25 things about yourself that a lot of people may not know.
I’ve called the 25-Things mania a chain letter on steriods to my buddies on Twitter:
being tagged to write “25 random things” on facebook is like a chain letter on steroids/am i the only one out there annoyed?
But now I’m realizing it may be worse than that.
People are trying so hard to be witty and out do their friends, that they’re disclosing information that could come back to haunt them.
Almost every hiring manager I talk to lately says one of the first things they do is Google an applicant’s name. I’ve written about this in the past in my MSNBC.com column.
The fourth item that comes up when you Google “Tahmincioglu” is:
Eve Tahmincioglu | Facebook
Eve Tahmincioglu is on Facebook. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook …
www.facebook.com/people/Eve-Tahmincioglu/712368721 - 22k - Cached - Similar pages
Yes, it’s my Facebook page. And it’s the fourth item because my column on MSNBC, my book, and one other outlet I’ve written for comes up before it. If you don’t have lots of stuff by you on the web there’s a good chance your Facebook page may rank even higher.
Just something to think about while you’re crafting your “25 Things.” Don’t make them “25 Things That May Come Back To Bite You On The Ass.”
Did you include anything questionable on your 25 Things? Comment about it here and let us all decide if you need to delete it.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I’ve only recently joined facebook, mostly due to the pleadings of so many who are close to me. As an IT professional who has worked in the information security field, it’s not only the “25 Random Things” posts that bother me, but all of the other seemingly harmless self-disclosure schemes that are going around. One that really had me alarmed recently was one about names–making up funny names by using names (or parts thereof) from your life. Here are some of the details the name game and some other “25 Random Things”-type notes have included lately:
- Your middle name
- Your mother’s maiden name
- Your favorite teacher
- You first pet’s name
- Your current pet’s name
- Your car make/model
- Your first car’s make/model
- The name of the street where you grew up
- Your first emlpoyer/job
- The name of your nth-grade teacher
…and the lists go on and on and on…
Is it coincidence that these are many of the bits of personal information that many online services and financial institutions use as security questions to safeguard your account? We’re just not thinking about the information we’re posting online. Is someone trying to deliberately harvest this information? I don’t know, but it does make me concerned. I checked a half-dozen of my Facebook friends and they all have posted enough personal information (between their profiles and their responses to these Notes) that someone could easily hijack some of their accounts. If one of the services that uses those such information for verification happens to have a record of your social security number that you can review online, your identity could well be stolen.
I think I need to post a comment on my Facebook account that warns my friends about the risks of posting such information.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
1. I love red wine best
2. I’m mom to a very strong willed child
3. I just celebrated my 7th wedding anniversary
4. People usually hate me when they first meet me.
5. My favorite breakfast is chocolate and coffee with skim milk and splenda.
6. I heart cats, but my husband is allergic so we don’t have any pets.
7. I love dancing.
8. I’m a slow runner.
9. I got the Presidential Physical Fitness Award 5 times in Jr. High.
10. I hate the treadmill.
11. I support every one of my friends who asks me to donate to a cause that they’re running/exercising for. (and Phil’s work usually matches)
12. Sometimes I either can’t or don’t want to do something, but still want to be asked or invited.
13. I like, but don’t love yoga.
14. My idea of being healthy is red wine for my heart.
15. I tell my doctor everything.
16. I talk to my daughter like an adult sometimes.
17. I majored in English in college, but don’t like a lot of classic literature.
18. I’m addicted to networking websites.
19. I get mad when my mom doesn’t read my blog.
20. I try to be a positive person.
21. I love my job. (most of the time)
22. I don’t have a lot of friends, but I have friends forever.
23. I love shopping.
24. I have to try really hard to rememeber people’s names.
25. I really wish my friend Stephanie lived in WA….or OR, or even ID…
February 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
These “25 Things” lists are annoying, which is why I’ve yet to publish mine (although it’s been written and edited several times). But the trend seems to either be flaunting accomplishments/experiences, listing mundane facts (relating to password theft), careless personality tidbits, or meaningful confessions of sorts.
The worst one I wrote about was that as a teenager I was very manipulative and closed-off, but today I’m open and honest to a fault. I make myself vulnerable and I am a much happier person. And… that I expose manipulative people I come across today without a second thought.
Self-absored? Yes. Good intentions? Maybe. Just for fun? Perhaps.
Appropriate for an employer? Probably not. But that’s what “privacy settings” are for.
People should be smart about what they post, but ask anyone– facebook is a friend network, not for business.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
hey katrina,
i think you’re ok with your 25 things.
the only one that could be an issue is #4 “People usually hate me when they first meet me.”
someone may take this as a negative, but this could also help you if an interview didn’t love you at first.
other than that, i’d hire you.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I’d like to disagree with commenter #3 “honest… to a fault,” mainly regarding the comment that “facebook is a friend network, not for business.”
Remember what the Diva said in her post - “Almost every hiring manager I talk to lately says one of the first things they do is Google an applicant’s name.”
Yes, Facebook is a friend network, but it can help you out in a job search. You should be very careful about what you post, because one day a potential employer may stumble upon it.
P.S. I can’t stand the “25 Things” lists either and agree that they’re stupid. Great post!
February 12th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Cali and Jody talked recently on their blog about how “ambient technology” can boost workplace productivity and connectedness, but after reading your post, I can understand why some employers are resisting it and blocking Facebook, Twitter, etc.
http://caliandjody.com/blog/2009/02/08/ambient-awareness-and-sludge/#comment-6169