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With the job as competitive as ever, it is no surprise that companies are going through great lengths to screen job applicants. Before I landed my current job, I went on an interview at a magazine where the HR person told me she had received over 700 resumes in response to the job posting.
It is a given that possible employers are looking a little closer and digging a bit deeper to find the right candidate. But how far is too far?
While riding in the elevator at work, I saw a news story on the tv screen (yes, we need to be entertained in the 30 second elevator ride) that shocked me. Some employers are going as far as asking for the passwords to applicants and employees’ Facebook accounts. This article tells the story of a young man who went on an interview in which the HR person went to access his Facebook account during the interview and it was private. The HR person then asked him to for his password so that she could view his account. The man refused and opted to end the interview.
Other companies have gone different routes- either by asking the job applicant to send them a friend request or by using third-party programs that search through profiles, if the applicant gives consent. A major criticism of this “trend”- which I strongly agree with- is that if puts those that are desperate for a job at the mercy of the employer. A young man with many prospects may be able to scoff at an HR rep looking for his Facebook password, but what about someone a little more in need of that job? A person with a family or someone struggling financially?
I understand the need for a thorough screening process for certain positions. Law enforcement, childcare, etc. However, I can’t help but feel by accessing someone’s Facebook account, it blurs the line between screening and prying. An employer may not find any posts about any illegal or unethical activities, but what if they see something they just do not like or view as inappropriate? It would take that candidate out of the running, and perhaps unfairly.
Your thoughts on this? Do you think this is just another method of screening? If you were desperate for a job, would you give a possible employer your Facebook password?
i think now its social network world, so its hard to protect our privacy. Before the employer might call to previous job, u just quit. But now its easy to stalk their employee by social network tool. and i would give my employer facebook password, but a formal version. i would have 2 facebooks for friends and for work..lolss
See I disagree. My view is that is what linkedin is for. Facebook is my personal have fun site and linkedin is professional for business. Which I have no problem sharing my link (still not password) to.
Thats certainly a way around the problem- two Facebooks. But do you want to live your life that way? You’d have to keep track on what you do with your personal page and what you do with your private.
I too would end the interview, that in my eyes is violating my 1st amendment. I think that goes over the line. I mean jobs do drug tests, background check heck even credit score checks, I don’t think they need to see my facebook too. Not to mention the security problem I could be leaving myself open to.
I would like to say I would have walked out also, but it’s hard to know what I would have done, especially if I were desperate for a job. You also raised a good point- aside from an invasion of your privacy, it causes a risk to your account’s security by giving your password out. You don’t want it in the wrong hands, even if those hands belong to an employer.
Thanks Jenelle.