Employers, recruiters send wrong message with social media tactics

It’s certainly an employer’s right to research prospective hires’ social media profiles before giving them the job. However, the city of Bozeman, Montana, took things a little too far when it asked applicants for their user names and passwords. That’s a little like asking applicants to provide not only a mailing address, but the keys to their house as well.

This isn’t the first time social media has been used to peer into candidates’ personal lives. One NFL franchise, for example, created a fake female Facebook profile and friended potential draft picks, hoping they’d connect with “her” so the franchise could get a closer look at their profiles. What’s worse? Honestly displaying yourself at your worst or lying to uncover the truth?

So how can responsible employers do their due diligence without being underhanded? Why not simply create a profile and ask applicants to connect? Candidates with the good sense to delete anything questionable would still be in the mix, and those who don’t would understandably be left out. If you think this gives applicants too much of a chance to hide the unflattering stuff, you might be right—but check your own profile before you throw the first stone. More importantly, in the social media world, as our personal and professional lives increasingly intersect, employers—not just job seekers—will have to adapt. Isn’t it better to give people an honest second chance than to begin a relationship with a lack of trust?

--Anthony J.