Having facebook etc. stuff "haunt" your career Forum

[CordeliusX]

I have friends who are spoken-word, performance artist wannabee types, and, like me, law school has always been this sort of perpetual "plan B" in the back of their minds.

My question is -in this age of people getting fired for questionable myspace/facebook photos- do firms hold it against you if there's a video of your screaming "F- this world" during a slam poetry contest? Or some party picture where you're blitzed and drooling and wearing a wig? Or how about those guys in Borat who said the racially charged stuff in their RV?

I always wanted to do something artistic myself, but I am paranoid of this type of stuff haunting me. I don't want a firm to one day fire me, or not hire me, because of some controversial thing I write or whatever. I was in a student-film back in college which I'm mortified of anyone seeing.

Anyway, I don't want silly fears to hold me back having fun or trying my hand at writing, but stuff doesn't go away these days. In fact, I theorize that politicians of the future will have tons of crazy crap dragged up about them relating to social media etc.

[jetlagz28]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71iDlIyehcw

[Z3RO]

I have friends who are spoken-word, performance artist wannabee types, and, like me, law school has always been this sort of perpetual "plan B" in the back of their minds.

My question is -in this age of people getting fired for questionable myspace/facebook photos- do firms hold it against you if there's a video of your screaming "F- this world" during a slam poetry contest? Or some party picture where you're blitzed and drooling and wearing a wig? Or how about those guys in Borat who said the racially charged stuff in their RV?

I always wanted to do something artistic myself, but I am paranoid of this type of stuff haunting me. I don't want a firm to one day fire me, or not hire me, because of some controversial thing I write or whatever. I was in a student-film back in college which I'm mortified of anyone seeing.

Anyway, I don't want silly fears to hold me back having fun or trying my hand at writing, but stuff doesn't go away these days. In fact, I theorize that politicians of the future will have tons of crazy crap dragged up about them relating to social media etc.

And now you're starting to understand the limitations of free speech.

I think about this constantly, and I've used it as an excuse to never try my hand at earnest writing. I also keep my privacy settings on facebook pretty strict (friends only or whatever).

[icydash]

In terms of facebook pictures / videos on your profile -- just make your profile private so only your friends can view it.

In terms of other random stuff out there on the internet (youtube? etc) - law school admissions councils don't have the time to search every applicants name on google / youtube / search the internet for damning photos....

At worst they may look at your FB profile, and if that's locked, then you're fine.

[quickquestionthanks]

In terms of facebook pictures / videos on your profile -- just make your profile private so only your friends can view it.

tcr - everyone should do this.

[jks289]

I think a good rule is if you wouldn't want a future employer to see something, don't put it on the internet. My personal belief is the onus is on an individual to keep certain elements of their personal lives private from their professional lives. I wouldn't discuss an interest in legalizing pot with my employer, so I won't "fan" that facebook page. I understand people feeling limited or constricted in their social media lives, but it seems like that is just part of being a professional adult.

As a tangentially related aside, I am connected through social media to a fair number of young lawyers, who I think use really questionable judgement online. It is awesome that something funny happened during your deposition (or just that you want to brag about taking a deposition) but posting stuff like that online seems to violate a pretty basic professional ethic.

[CordeliusX]

I want to elaborate a bit on my post. I have no ambition to be a "stand up comic" but that is a good example of what I'm talking about.

You do some sort of rant in some club, it gets recorded by somebody's video camera, and years later you are applying for a job and there's some clip of you telling lesbian jokes or anti-illegal immigration jokes or some crap that is taken out of context, possibly never funny to begin with... and...??

Basically, what I am afraid of is: aiming for a professional career limits you from fully enjoying life. you always have to watch your back, "behave," etc. What do you all think?

[Anonymous User]

Create fake profiles with your name and a pic of a stranger instead of you. If you do something questionable online, the fake profiles will throw the scent off.

[Z3RO]

Dude, that's why it's called "selling out". Deal with it.

Personally, I'm standing in line to sell out.



"I didn't sell out. I bought in."

[Anonymous User]

In terms of facebook pictures / videos on your profile -- just make your profile private so only your friends can view it.

tcr - everyone should do this.

Insufficient: I just found out at the office at which I work they have the ability to pay a certain amount (I think it is $20-50) and access locked/private profiles. Definitely axe the pictures.

[icydash]

In terms of facebook pictures / videos on your profile -- just make your profile private so only your friends can view it.

tcr - everyone should do this.

Insufficient: I just found out at the office at which I work they have the ability to pay a certain amount (I think it is $20-50) and access locked/private profiles. Definitely axe the pictures.

I'm pretty sure this is illegal, and inaccurate....unless they are paying off your friends.

[Anonymous User]

Look I'm not an expert on either facebook's policies or the means by which someone can do that. I am at a law enforcement office and HR informed us that they pay a fee to access locked profiles. Just reporting what I heard.

[ConMan345]

Look I'm not an expert on either facebook's policies or the means by which someone can do that. I am at a law enforcement office and HR informed us that they pay a fee to access locked profiles. Just reporting what I heard.

I think this might be key.

[icydash]

I want to elaborate a bit on my post. I have no ambition to be a "stand up comic" but that is a good example of what I'm talking about.

You do some sort of rant in some club, it gets recorded by somebody's video camera, and years later you are applying for a job and there's some clip of you telling lesbian jokes or anti-illegal immigration jokes or some crap that is taken out of context, possibly never funny to begin with... and...??

Basically, what I am afraid of is: aiming for a professional career limits you from fully enjoying life. you always have to watch your back, "behave," etc. What do you all think?

Part of having a professional career is knowing how to act like a professional, and in what context certain things are appropriate or inappropriate. If you want to tell anti-illegal immigration jokes, or lesbian jokes, just tell your friends.... instead of standing up in front of a crowd of people you don't know and possibly being videotaped.

There's no reason you can't still tell the jokes, have a sense of humor, keep your personality, etc....you just have to know in what context it's appropriate considering the job you're thinking about (ie don't stand in front of a crowd and make abortion jokes if considering running for president one day)....You just have to think a little more long term.

I don't think it limits you; you just have to be a little smarter about how you act, that's all.

[Anonymous User]

True, but it is still a salient issue for anyone who wants to go DA/pub defender, DOJ or any really image-conscious firm (BIGLAW?)

[icydash]

Look I'm not an expert on either facebook's policies or the means by which someone can do that. I am at a law enforcement office and HR informed us that they pay a fee to access locked profiles. Just reporting what I heard.

I think this might be key.

Exactly what I was thinking. Government agencies are a very, very different cup of tea.

[clintonius]

I think a good rule is if you wouldn't want a future employer to see something, don't put it on the internet. My personal belief is the onus is on an individual to keep certain elements of their personal lives private from their professional lives. I wouldn't discuss an interest in legalizing pot with my employer, so I won't "fan" that facebook page. I understand people feeling limited or constricted in their social media lives, but it seems like that is just part of being a professional adult.

As a tangentially related aside, I am connected through social media to a fair number of young lawyers, who I think use really questionable judgement online. It is awesome that something funny happened during your deposition (or just that you want to brag about taking a deposition) but posting stuff like that online seems to violate a pretty basic professional ethic.

Talking about work-related things seems like a different issue than what the OP's bringing up, but I agree that this sort of thing really shouldn't be done. In my mind there are better grounds for professional reprimand for something like that than for there being a photograph of you drunk.

[icydash]

True, but it is still a salient issue for anyone who wants to go DA/pub defender, DOJ or any really image-conscious firm (BIGLAW?)

Not necessarily true. Police and prominent government agencies (DA) have a lot more access to your personal information, or can legally request it, than firms & biglaw do (which can't request certain information from you / legally access certain info w/o your permission).

[09042014]

Dude, that's why it's called "selling out". Deal with it.

Personally, I'm standing in line to sell out.



"I didn't sell out. I bought in."

SLC Punk reference, nice.

[DoubleChecks]

I think a good rule is if you wouldn't want a future employer to see something, don't put it on the internet. My personal belief is the onus is on an individual to keep certain elements of their personal lives private from their professional lives. I wouldn't discuss an interest in legalizing pot with my employer, so I won't "fan" that facebook page. I understand people feeling limited or constricted in their social media lives, but it seems like that is just part of being a professional adult.

As a tangentially related aside, I am connected through social media to a fair number of young lawyers, who I think use really questionable judgement online. It is awesome that something funny happened during your deposition (or just that you want to brag about taking a deposition) but posting stuff like that online seems to violate a pretty basic professional ethic.

+1 all the way. the argument my friends always use when plastering their fb sites w/ drunken photos is "well im sure even employers were young once"...it isnt so much the fact that you're drinking, saying x, etc. that gets you in trouble -- it is the fact that you had questionable judgment in making it public online. when a firm hires you (or plans to), you become a representative of that firm or company. i believe they have a complete right to hold it against you if you tarnish it in any way as they wouldnt want to be damned by association.

like jks said, sure it could feel limiting at times...but it is what being a professional adult in today's society entails.

[presh]

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[jks289]

Anyone who thinks they are private online should read facebook's new privacy policy changes. Even hitting the max privacy settings means strangers can view what you are a "fan" of, where you work, and what causes you support.

http://gawker.com/5521194/facebook-crus ... h-impunity

Yikes.

This thread made me think of this article in the NYTimes from last year. A lawyer went online to bitch about a judge, and wound up held in contempt:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13 ... odayspaper

[Renzo]

Dude, that's why it's called "selling out". Deal with it.

Yep.

You can't be in politics and work in the circus- You have to choose just one

[presh]

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[emilybeth]

Look I'm not an expert on either facebook's policies or the means by which someone can do that. I am at a law enforcement office and HR informed us that they pay a fee to access locked profiles. Just reporting what I heard.

This isn't true. I have a friend who works at Facebook & I asked her if there was any truth to this. She said she didn't think so, but she checked with her higher-ups to make sure. The only way law enforcement entities can break through Facebook's privacy settings is via subpoena.

Not that this in any way changes what everyone else in this thread has said about being smart about what you put on there.