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HardWorkinMom · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject: Can the Internet harm me?

A lot of people have been telling me that having information about myself online is going to hurt my chances of getting a job. I am wondering just how true this is. Can being an eBay seller or having a MySpace account really hurt my job opportunities? What do you think? If you think that this can harm me what should I do about it? Any suggestions? Thanks!

lilo · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject:

) this question is so interesting! Bravo to you....

well....it can affect you or not...it depends on what you display on those accounts (i'm talking about myspace, hi5, yahoo 360).....usually....people who have accounts on these types of sites are considered to have other preoccupations than work...I wonder if you understand what I mean....
I think you already know the employers' opinions on employees caught chatting and all Smile

Then...you may encounter some...not very nice job colleagues which...you know...can be envious and can use your various appearances on the internet as weapons against you.

Las and not least...the greatest harm the internet can do in your case is psychological and emotional....you might get some....let's call them attacks or rejections from the part of employers or colleagues....

CareerRookie · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:08 pm Post subject:

I think that you have touched on a lot of very good points lilo. I know that I like spending time online but never at work. It's kind of like a hobbie for me and I make sure that people can never tie me to my real name. I never give out such personal things as my real name, phone number, address, etc. Another thing that I don't do is I never put a picture of myself online. I think that if you conduct yourself professionally, and in this manner, then you'll be fine.

ank06 · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 248 Career Advice: +1/-0

I agree to both lilo and careerrookie....If you do it for pleasure, then fine...nevertheless.....I don't have any problem when it comes to photos...as long as they appear on a presentable site and all and they are by no means indecent....
I'm thinking about all those sites that promote blogging....which is...I believe, interesting (i repeat myself, as long as they are decent). It's a good way to make friends and all, even if an individual should not limit oneself to the internet.

Katja144 · Expert Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 176 Career Advice: +2/-0

Often, employers will Google your name to see what they can find. So, if they find your MySpace account with a half-naked picture of your or your livejournal detailing the drunken weekend you had...yes, it's going to hurt you.

Luckily, the solution is easy: don't put your name, picture, or any identifying information on these accounts, and there'll pretty much be no way to find you (I'm sure a really dedicated stalker might somehow find a way, but no employer's going to go to that much trouble). I myself have plenty of web presence but nowhere is there any way to know who I really am (this is actually due to paranoia, but has turned out to serve me well when it comes to this problem as well). If you Google my name all you'll get is a bunch of pages about people with similar names and a couple press releases from my alma mater.

Richard · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

There have been a couple of high profile cases recently of bloggers being caught out and every time that happens employees become a little more wary that their new employee may well use the company resources for their own ends. This is understandable. Imagine you're an employer and how you'd like your staff to behave. You'd want a credit to your organisation not someone who would discredit it. Most bloggers thrive on anonymity anyway. I don't but then I'm self-employed so don't care!

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