Watch out for what you leave lying around the web

Ah the freedom of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, those places you can let your hair down and let loose with all the vagaries of your life. It’s so much fun to be able to post those pictures of your wild weekend that you wouldn’t even want to show your mother. Not to mention the fact that you can let loose a verbal tirade against all who piss you off.

It doesn’t matter really does it; after all it’s not like anyone but your friends who are going to see or read all those tasty little tidbits of your fascinating live. Well if you want a job in the information technology field or land a plum gig with some professional and business service company you might want to think twice about being so free with your life’s finer details.

According to a CareerBuilder survey forty-five percent of employers are using social media networking sites to research job applicants; with another 11 percent planning to start incorporating in their hiring practices. The survey provided some of the key reasons that thirty-five percent of employers would hold against you in your seeking of that dream job.

Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information – 53 percent

Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs – 44 percent

Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients – 35 percent

Candidate showed poor communication skills – 29 percent

Candidate made discriminatory comments – 26 percent

Candidate lied about qualifications – 24 percent

Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer – 20 percent

Source: MarketWatch :: Forty-five Percent of Employers Use Social Networking Sites to Research Job Candidates, CareerBuilder Survey Finds

Now about those pics of your last trip to Las Vegas – maybe they should have stayed there instead of your Facebook page.

hat tip to StarterTech