If you're an EMT or Medic and you're on MySpace, please read

[Rescue0ne]

If you've read this already, please continue with what you're doing. If you've NOT read it, please take a moment to do so. This concerns the dangers of social networking (Myspace, Facebook, etc), and how it could cost you that new job you want...or possibly get you fired from your current one!

Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

That cute, affable guy who brags of his drunken exploits on MySpace.com may be meeting a lot of other partiers online, but he's probably not getting added to the "friends" lists of many corporate recruiters. A recent study by the executive search firm ExecuNet found that 77 percent of recruiters run searches of candidates on the Web to screen applicants; 35 percent of these same recruiters say they've eliminated a candidate based on the information they uncovered.

"You'd be surprised at what I've seen when researching candidates," says Gail, a recruiter at a Fortune 500 company who recently began looking up potential hires on the Web. "We were having a tough time deciding between two candidates until I found the profile of one of them on MySpace. It boasted a photo of her lounging on a hammock in a bikini, listed her interests as 'having a good time' and her sex as 'yes, please.' Not quite what we were looking for."

"Another time I went to a candidate's site and found racial slurs and jokes," Gail continues. "And there was yet another instance where a candidate told me he was currently working for a company, yet he left a comment on a friend's profile about how it 'sucked' to be laid off, and how much fun it was to be unemployed!"

As the amount of personal information available online grows, first impressions are being formed long before the interview process begins, warns David Opton, ExecuNet CEO and founder. "Given the implications and the shelf-life of Internet content, managing your online image is something everyone should address -- regardless of whether or not you're in a job search," he says. Because the risks don't stop once you're hired.

Twenty-three-year old Kara recently took a job as a management consultant at a high-profile practice in the Los Angeles area. An Ohio native, with no friends or family on the West Coast, Kara put up a profile on MySpace in the hopes of meeting new people.

Kara was judicious in how she set up her site: "I didn't fill out that cheesy questionnaire many people post, where you describe your best feature and say whether or not you shower every day." she says. "I used a photo that was flattering but not at all provocative and was even careful what music I chose."

Within a few months, Kara met many others online who shared her interest in biking and water sports. One Friday morning, Kara decided to call in sick and go surfing with a few of her new pals. That weekend, unbeknownst to Kara, her friend posted some of the day's pictures on her profile and sent Kara a message saying, "We should call in sick more often."

Unfortunately for Kara, her boss happened to be patrolling MySpace to check up on her college-age daughter and came across Kara's site and the dated photos!

Mortified, Kara says she learned an important lesson -- not only about honesty, but about how small the world of online social networking can be and how little control you have over any information put out there.

Not all employers search candidates and employees online, but the trend is growing. Don't let online social networking deep-six your career opportunities. Protect your image by following these simple tips:

1. Be careful. Nothing is private. Don't post anything on your site or your "friends" sites you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqué photos, foul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a reflection of your character.

2. Be discreet. If your network offers the option, consider setting your profile to "private," so that it is viewable only by friends of your choosing. And since you can't control what other people say on your site, you may want to use the "block comments" feature. Remember, everything on the Internet is archived, and there is no eraser!

3. Be prepared. Check your profile regularly to see what comments have been posted. Use a search engine to look for online records of yourself to see what is out there about you. If you find information you feel could be detrimental to your candidacy or career, see about getting it removed -- and make sure you have an answer ready to counter or explain "digital dirt."

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

[Just Plain Ruff]

this is one more wake up call to all of us with these accounts. What you do post on the internet can come back and bite youin the proverbial rear end.

[dahlio]

interesting, never thought the corporate world would search such things. makes me wonder who else has seen mine...

[Ridryder 911]

Good points, I do wonder how those employers obtain their site ? Hopefully, most would never place their full name or personal information.

I will warn as well employers and administration may look at these sites. I know we had a few medics "giving the one finger salute" on some personal pics' however they were on duty. The boss has not taken action as of yet, but I am sure he keeps it in mind. Many employers would feel that if you are in uniform or display any logos or information you are "representing the company".

R/r 911

[JCicco345]

That is a definitely something good to remember. I think that it is smart of companies to use myspace and websites of the like, to screen their potential employees. Its a quick way to check out the real person, granted not everyone is probably 100 percent honest on those sites, but if you find something like they did on the people from the above story it is a good catch. It also gives the job to the more qualified person and prevents companies from hiring idiots. Hmm i know a few places that probably should have done a little more of in depth backrounds of their employees prior to hiring.

[VentMedic]

It is actually just a relatively small extra fee to have an internet search done on an individual when an employment check is done. I had a check run by an employer last year when I traveled as a Respiratory Therapist. The forums and listserves that showed up were the sites that I use my true name . On some, my true name appears because the sign on is my license or professional membership number. Some of these sites are supposed to be closed and protected. Fortunately it actually helped because they were all professional RT forums and looked like I was very involved in the profession. Just have to be very careful now.

[EMT City Administrator]

Trust me.... it is not only myspace that gets the attention. I have had to "fix" or "make disappear" more than a few posts for people that have let a little too much out of the bag, and now their post was front and center on the bosses screen.

Be safe....

[Timmy]

This is why I have my profile on private and only accept or add people I know.

[Rescue0ne]

Good points, I do wonder how those employers obtain their site ? Hopefully, most would never place their full name or personal information.

One way I've found alot of people I went to school with, was to type their first & last name in to the search box on MySpace. Alot of people evidently don't think twice before entering their full legal name. I guess maybe they figure, "I'm not entering my SS#, or credit card #, so what's the harm?"

Heck, even entering your real birthdate is risky these days.

Like it was said in a previous post, best to set your profile to private, where only friends can access it. Alternatively, just don't use your full and/or real name...or put personal info on your Myspace or Facebook, or whatever you use.

Be safe!

[edogs334]

A medic I know didn't get hired at a service they applied to for this exact reason.