Professionally Creeping

Creeping. A verb once used to describe creepy crawly bugs now has a total new meaning. In recent years, creeping has become a normal word in most people's daily vocabulary when regarding the social medium Facebook. Today, creeping means following and searching others' Facebook pages to see what they are involved in, who they are involved with, and much more. And let's be honest, we all do it. Whether you are checking in to see what your old elementary school friend is up to these days or you want to know how your cousin's friend's aunt's neighbor's vacation was, most, if not all of us, are guilty of being "creepers." Most Facebook users are aware of the fact that friends are checking their pages; this is why people create a Facebook in the first place. However, more people than just your friends or random connections search your page to see what you're doing. It is becoming more common for employers to research job candidates by their Facebook profiles to judge candidates' professionalism and character.

This new form of an informal background check has stirred up a controversy. Is it ethical for employers to "creep" on you via Facebook and use that information to determine your capability of performing at work? Or are employers crossing the line into personal privacy, stepping into unethical territory?

The following link provides further reading about the pros and cons regarding Facebook and employers, an article by BusinessWeek: "Get Outta My Facebook"

Both sides of the spectrum hold valid arguments. On one hand, when somebody makes a Facebook page, they are publishing content on the Internet, understanding that their life is now public regardless of Facebook privacy settings. Employers see creeping as an inexpensive and valuable opportunity to evaluate the true character and priorities of a job candidate. When employers are informed of a candidate's personal responsibility, it allows employers to further screen candidates who could potentially be reckless or represent the company poorly.

On the other hand, many argue that it is completely unethical for employers to regard your Facebook when considering you for a job. These people proclaim that personal information displayed on Facebook offers no relevant information about how somebody will perform in the workplace. In addition, is it really necessary for job seekers to undergo this type of background check on top of the many others they face such as credit checks, criminal background checks, drug tests, and more?

I believe much of this debacle stems from the issue of what is perceived as "public" and what is "private" on the Internet. According to The Technological Citizen's interview with Tom Demello, CEO of Ziggs.com, a professional networking site, current Facebook users do not understand the impact our posts, pictures, and statuses will have on us in the long run. Regardless of whether it is ethical or not, the fact is employers are using Facebook to screen candidates. Sharing pictures and information too comfortably on Facebook could potentially and significantly harm your efforts in landing a job, and current Facebook users should accept this or learn it the hard way.

Here is the link of the video with Tom Demello regarding Facebook, job seekers, and employers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCrBNeCdDIo&feature=player_embedded

Ethically yours,

Heather