More Facebook Bullshit!

I haven't needed to conduct any job interviews yet this year, but if I do later on, I think I might ask about their Facebook password (without any intention of using it) just to see what their reaction might be. For me, the "correct" response would be to refuse politely, on the basis of personal boundaries, and unwillingness to betray the confidence of friends. Handing the password over too easily would tell me, "I'll do anything for money". That's a scary thing to see in an employee.

Obviously, that reaction would make it quite easy for me to take a potential office troublemaker off my list. Every job is going to sometimes put you in situations you don't like, and you reactions need to be a little bit more under control. It isn't always fatal to disagree with an employer. As long as you show respect and give reasons for your positions, you have a chance of winning the negotiation.

 

I agree completely ^

 

And what if said 'potential trouble maker' really is and takes the ethics issue of asking to his lawyer?

 

He could try but actually shouldn't leave without asking an explanation.

 

How is not wanting to give up personal information make somebody a "potential trouble maker"? I have nothing at all to hide on my facebook, infact i rarely use it, yet i still wouldn't give an employer my password. It's none of their business, why should they care what i do with my own personal life?

My life doesn't revolve around some company, and what i do on my own time shouldn't be their concern unless it effects me or them at the job. If an employer asks for my password, that's an invasion of privacy, and in my books they can go fuck themselves, i wouldn't want to work for such nosy people like i said... work is work, lets leave it at that, why does facebook have to be involved?

 

I thought she said "potential troublemaker" because you would stand up and leave and not go in debate about it.

 

Well i wouldn't literally stand up and leave right away i guess, i was just exaggerating a little..

But i would refuse, and possibly think less of the employer for having to scoop that low and be that insecure of his/her own hiring abilities that they need to resort to invading my personal privacy.

Going into somebodies facebook account is like opening their mail, do you want some stranger possibly reading personal messages you send to your family members, girlfriend/wife, close friends, etc...

Anyways, i would simply refuse, and if the person asked again and was being an ass about it then i would simply walk out, i wouldn't want to work for such a person anyways, no good could come of it in the end...

 

I'd maybe just tell them "I don't have one" if I had been smart about keeping personal and private info separate from FB bullshit.

I think it's a subtle social IQ test myself, "How stupid are youi,,, can we slip this past you yet,,, do we need to accelerate the Fluoride program?", stuff like that,,,

 

Reality check: In your lifetime, you will most likely work for several assholes and jerks. Few people are lucky enough to avoid that experience.

Even less likely that you will be able to avoid confrontational interviews. In every job interview I've ever conducted, I've always asked a thing or two that was intended to stir things up a bit, to see if the applicant will blow up. It's a commonly accepted interviewing practice. If you don't handle stress and controversy in a mature way, the company would rather find out in the interview than have to fire you later and look for a replacement.

So, don't ever assume the obvious about the intended purpose of a question. They may be expecting you to completely disagree with it, in a rational way. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that some companies are asking for Facebook passwords and rejecting applicants for providing them. It could happen.

Some interviewers prefer to make the entire interview as tense and miserable as possible. I don't like that approach, but it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me (as an applicant) unless I was going to be reporting directly to that person. HR people aren't there to be your friends. They get paid to play hardball, push your buttons, and screen out fools.

Interviewing is a game. Play it to win. Play smart.

 

Ahhh- to work for ones self. Can't beat it.

 

sure you can. to not need to work at all.

 

Hah ^

I was discussing this same subject with my gainfully, happily employed son and me not so much so ...but we both agreed how wrong it was for an employer to do this, with the password thing and acting as if might they "need" that. Can anybody say undue pressure?
I personally do not put a THING on fb that could not be examined with a microscope....I've befriended too many relatives. :mickey:

Anyway, back to the subject...my first thought was to tell them that I don't have one - and I don't, under my work/legal name.

 

saw this somewhere else, brings up some interesting points:

http://raganwald.posterous.com/i-hereby-resign