Some companies not looking for resumes

[CalyCoRose]

Instead, they're asking for your web-presence personae.

Instead of resumes, companies are now asking for your LinkedIn, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. accounts so they can see what type of person you really are in the "real world".

Is this good or bad?

Will there be a lot of fake or at least secondary accounts? 1 for personal and 1 for professional consideration?

What does everyone think?

[Salted Grump]

I think they'll have an utter crapfit in regards to people like me who have no accounts in any of what they mentioned.

[Bright_Star]

I think they'll have an utter crapfit in regards to people like me who have no accounts in any of what they mentioned.

So could they, in theory, force you to get an account with Twitter, Facebook or whoever in order to get the job?

[sms001]

already anticipated and mirrored my linked-in and a 'pro' fb profile.

like it? no. why don't they send someone by my house just to watch me for a few days? OH! THAT'S expensive. which says to me - we're nosy and intrusive AND cheap.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Sounds like one of those games employers play with applicants knowing the economy sucks, joblessness is high, nobody is particularly concerned about improving those things, and that some people will do anything to get a job.

It also sounds like a really great way to commit age discrimination on the sly.

[Becks]

In a way, I wish them good luck, and in another way, I'm screwed if they do this.

Why?

I have a rather common name.

[Food Lady]

I wouldn't want to work for a company that does that. It's an invasion of privacy. And who I am on FB is only part of the picture, anyway. I'm more real here than on social media.

[Slayer]

I think it makes sense for certain types of jobs where public image is very important.

But for normal day to day jobs? Nah. There's no need for that.

[fireheart]

It also sounds like a really great way to commit age discrimination on the sly.

This.

I can really see this happening and there not being anything they can do about it.

So of course, I can suddenly see people in their 40's and 50's changing their birthdays to be "20 years younger".

[MoonCat]

Sounds stupid to me. Who you are on Facebook, Tumblr or whatever says nothing about your experience in the working world or whether you have the skills to do the job. Unless that job involves extensive use of online media, I suppose.

Employers get weird sometimes, just because they can. Like asking an applicant, "If you were a tree, what kind would you be and why?" Or any of the other dumb things that turn up in interviews these days. You will never convince me that asking stupid questions like that is a good way to find the right person to hire. (And no, it's not a "a good way to test your problem-solving skills" or "to see how fast you think" etc. They could just as easily pose an actual problem that might come up on the job.)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

When I was reading the OP, I was totally picturing Ryan from The Office being the one asking for these things in lieu of a resume.

Woof!

[Pedersen]

Something that people forget is that there are at least two aspects to doing a job: There's the "do the actual job" part, and then there's the "do the job while working with other people" part.

Your resume will tell me (or it should) the first part. It will completely ignore the second part. Discovering the person who can do both parts is part of the hiring process. You need to find someone who can do the job requirements, and do it as part of the collective team.

So, if you've got three candidates sitting in your inbox that you would like to see if they fit, how do you narrow it down? Normally, you bring them in for an interview.

Problem is that sometimes, the fit is just atrocious, and you wasted your time, and the candidate's time (and gas), and nobody is happy. If you review their social profile, you can possibly avoid those bad fits.

For example, you're looking at those three candidates, and you see that one of them is a complete sports nut, while everybody else in the office actively hates sports. You can tell right from that that the person is unlikely to fit in and be happy over the long term. Why waste their time bringing them in and finding it out then?

Looking at your public social profile is not at all unreasonable. Demanding access to the private one is, and only a couple of employers have dared to try that so far (with major backlash). But looking at what you say about yourself in public? Why is that unreasonable? Especially if it gets used as a tool to help make sure you're making the best possible choice for your company and the potential candidate?

[Food Lady]

Because it doesn't always show the whole picture. People love my FB statuses; they find them hilarious. I appear bubbly and witty, and I can be, but if someone wants to hire me for those qualities, he will be sorely disappointed, as I am much more serious-minded at work. I show a totally different side on social media than what you see otherwise.

[tropicsgoddess]

I wouldn't want to work for a company that does that. It's an invasion of privacy. And who I am on FB is only part of the picture, anyway. I'm more real here than on social media.

I agree 100% on that! That's the reason why set my facebook profile where only friends can see it and that it can't be searched in google or any other search engine. I'll admit I caved and did make a LinkedIn account since some jobs give you the option or only allow you to apply via your LinkedIn profile...plus all the connections and networking can work to my advantage.

[Redbeard]

Agreed. My FB is my dumping ground where I can cut loose. There is wok and there is home, and FB is definitely home.