Member of the Month

profa_212
July, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Employers Screening Employees Social Media

profile picture
ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
search barred and didn't find anything. just wondering what people think about employer's using social media to determine if you get hired or not? do you see it as an invasion of privacy or their right since you are their agents?

source: my employer's do this
12 years ago
46 23
profile picture
Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11957 - Karma: 12,320
Most employers do this. They don't make you friend them. And if they are gonna hire you they have every right to make sure you fit what they are looking for.
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
Someday you will be an adult. And all the stupid shit you posted on facebook and instagram will be undeletable. Your best job will be mason, construction hand or fry cook. Delete them now, avoid the hassle, make real friends.
12 years ago
3 10
profile picture
Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
When someone hands us an application or resume the every first thing we do when they walk out of the door is look them up on Facebook. Just sayin
12 years ago
5 1
profile picture
yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
This.

And how would it be an invasion of privacy if you're already posting pictures and whatnot for the world to see? Doesn't make any sense.

12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,903
Privacy settings help don't they? Some people have them set high enough that people other than friends can see very little.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
No matter what your privacy settings are anyone can flip through your prof pics or cover photos. We had a dude come in with a resume, when he left we pulled up his FB and his cover photo from the day before was a bunch of mushrooms with "Hallucinogenic Mushrooms" written on the top
12 years ago
1 1
profile picture
yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
They do and I have mine set at max lol. But really if you're applying for a decent job (not hamburger flipper), then you really shouldn't have pictures of you taking bong rips and motorboating some solid 7 you met at a bar. I think it just comes down to using some common sense.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
i agree that it's not invasion of privacy, i just know many people feel that way. i think if you're going to post that stuff then you deserve to be held accountable for it.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Pretty sure you can set the privacy settings so that only friends and friends of friends can even search for you, eliminating the worry of having some random possible employer finding you without adding your friends first.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
Yeah you were right, you can't see prof pics, but you can flip through cover photos, I just tried it with a few people
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
I think the biggest problem with this is that some employers will actually ask for your password so they can scroll through your account and feed. that's obviously over the line but I have no problem with a potential employer looking over my public timeline.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7820 - Karma: 1,593
If you're applying for a job, the best thing to do is to deactivate your Facebook for the period you're submitting resumes and applications. It is completely worth a little time of no social media for a job that could make your career.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,460
My last tweet said "you know, just watching frogs fuck on the discovery channel." Do I need to delete that?
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31080 - Karma: 29,705
curious, when someone does have solid privacy settings and you can't view anything (well cover aside), does it make you think twice about the person or do you say "at least they're smart about it" ? I've heard both situations, curious to see what someone that actually does it says.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,897
reasons why i don't use my real name online
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
It's definitely a plus to be able to flip through pictures and not have anything weird, obscene, or creepy come up.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Exactly how I feel.

If a potential employer wants to look over what I publicly share, I see no issues. The second that an employer were to ask for a password is the second I would walk away. I don't share anything I consider private or inappropriate but there are boundaries that should not be crossed.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.Apex.
Posts: 2097 - Karma: 1,556
If someone googles my name the first link is some chicks formspring with someone asking if we hooked up in a bathroom.... Shit
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
Live Nation checked my fb and still hired me
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
forrealz
Posts: 13 - Karma: 173
If you put it out there, it is fair play in my opinion.  The NS Forums are wide open too...keep that one in mind!
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,590
But it's way more difficult to follow somebody when you can't search them by name and they use an online alias, and when there isn't a way to see things that they have posted besides scrolling through threads
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
johnnyBuz
Posts: 1439 - Karma: 1,270
1. Set privacy settings so they can't even search for you.
2. Change your name so they don't even know what to search for.

I have plenty of NSFW shit on my Facebook but a potential employer is never going to see that because I'm not a moron that leaves my Facebook open to the public.

/thread
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
forrealz
Posts: 13 - Karma: 173
True.  But I have seen people use their real name on here (for a pic or something).  Then, you know their alias and the threads they created (which can be quite interesting reading material).
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
funny you should say that, because a self employed stone mason can make really really good money, hand pick the jobs you want, pick easy fast ones and its hard not to make $1000/day, good weekend or side work, I did it in high school.

Now I'm an industrial electrician, I start my new job next week. two weeks on, 2 weeks off, and about $10000 during those 2 weeks.

So really, construction can pay damn good, and people need to change their attitude towards tradespeople.
12 years ago
2 2
profile picture
Stainr
Posts: 1187 - Karma: -1,149
facebook's gay
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
TheClap.
Posts: 21685 - Karma: 4,254
And / bullshit claim
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Nope, not a claim, can verify.  In fact 10g's for 2 weeks isn't even the highest for E/I.  My brother is 17g for 2 weeks on a 2 in 2 out rotation.  
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
just stay one step ahead of them udjust your cover photo and profile picture when you apply for work to you in a suit and tie working diligently at a desk,
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
You only get paid while your there obviously and in those two weeks you work a months worth of hours, If I remember right it was roughly 170hrs (12hrs a day * 14 days = 168 plus some travel and O.T.) * $100/hr = $17000 per shift * 12 shifts (providing you take 1 of the 13 shifts off) = $204000 with a 6 week vacay or $221000 with no vacay.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,894
electricians on the 'pro circuit' do




Click for larger image

12 years ago
3 1
profile picture
bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
Maybe if you take that number and cut it in half and then cut it in half again you'll have the right salary.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
You put it on internet. How is that invasion of privacy? No invasion. Facebook gives them access. Facebook owns the information you give them. The info is out that companies do it..
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,293
if a potential employer has a problem with anything on my Facebook, I wouldn't want them to be by boss anyways. so let them look, it'll be a screening process going the other way to weed out the lame as fuck bosses.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
It's not total bullshit, it's not even close to bullshit.  He is a contractor to a large oil company so essentially he is his own company, however that hundred dollars an hour also has to cover a pickup truck and all his benefits as well.  Industrial E/I get paid very well I am also an Industrial Electrician however I am doing things a little differently. I do not work shift I am on salary and am home every night and with a little OT make easily over 10k month. 
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Maturin
Posts: 132 - Karma: 78
Electricians make good money, you can stop now.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Compared to what? A career where the average salary is $40,000-50,000 is not "good money" in most people's eyes.
12 years ago
0 2
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337

I hate to continue to argue about this and hate that it's coming off as a claim.  I do not work at the Oilsands or in fort macmurray and never have.  I do not work for an oil company in any manner.  However the oilsands have inflated the wages for all industrial trades people in western Canada.  The company I work for the average electricians salary I is about 97k plus bonuses, o.t. etc.  You are right the salary may not be the same throughout the US and eastern Canada.  I am also guessing the guy who started this, being from saskatchewan, proabably works in a Uranium mine.

Back to the topic at hand.  I hadn't even thought of checking FB when hirring people, maybe I should. I'll have to check company policy and see if it's OK.

12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
Most electricians I know are making between $60-$100k annually. They get paid to go to school, so they don't come out with student debt.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
twitter is normally a lot worse. more impulsive and prone to happen at parties and such
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
p-oskier
Posts: 1407 - Karma: 58
I believe him, people in Alberta working construction and stuff like that make a shit tone of money but you also have to consider that price of living there is like 2x more than other places in Canada.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Well that turned into a shit storm. Perfect proof of the false sense of "college is better then trades" mentality.

I'll keep this basic, I live in Saskatchewan, we're fucking booming like Alberta. Sask is full of potash, coal, uranium and oil and gas. With the influx of mining and oil and gas employment came a housing boom, the lowest paid electricians, being residential make an average of around 34 bucks an hour. Commercial electricians around 36 and industrial in potash around 38-40, varies from job to job and uranium the average is around 44.

So some math for the LOWEST paid electricians 34/hr x 40hrs/week x 52 weeks = 70,720 before taxes

An example of an industrial job at a potash mine $38/hr, $125 LOA/day, 2 weeks on 1 off rotation: $38x40hrs +  $52.50x30hrsOT + ($125x7 )= 3970/week    sooo work 34 weeks a year at 3970 totals $134,980/year.

Now my job which you cant seem to believe, 2 weeks in 2 weeks out, $56/hr 12 hr days:
$56x40hrs + $84x44hrs = $5936/week
now remember 2 in 2 out so we divide 52 weeks in half giving us 26 weeks x $5936 = 154,336/year


Yes, this is all before taxes, but contributing maximums to RRSPs and TFSAs annually as well as charitable donations yields nice tax returns each year. This year I got $8800 back.



12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9245 - Karma: 5,695
i believe an employer asking for your facebook password is illegal. it might not be, but i think it is.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9245 - Karma: 5,695
apparently it's illegal in NJ and DE, which is good for me. sucks for the rest of you. but you can refuse to hand over your password.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
honestly if they asked for my password I would ask for theirs. if they gave me theirs I would give them mine. then I would change it immediately after the interview.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
HaHa I'll have to check that one as well, I've got summer students coming in for interviews soon.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,293
wait wait wait... employers actually ask for your personal password to go check stuff that's absolutely none of their business?? do you live in Nazi Germany?
12 years ago
2 0
profile picture
ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
haha ill sit back and watch
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
some do yeah. and it's totally their business if they're going to pay you thousands every year and have you represent them. might be a step too far to ask for it, but its totally their business.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
No, no it is not.
12 years ago
2 0
profile picture
fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
I think people have this confused. I've never heard of an employer asking for your password and accessing your page on their own time. I have heard of them putting a computer in front of you, and asking you to log in.

still not something I agree with even though my page is clean, but it does happen so you might as well be ready.
12 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 6:33AM