March 30, 2006 11:40 AM

A cautionary tale for job seekers
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 11:40 AM

Attention, job seekers: blogging can be hazardous to your professional health.

So reports the Globe today in relating the story of a job seeker whose potential employer checked out her blog and chose not to hire her:

On a routine check of her server logs, [job seeker Lis Riba] found that somebody from the nonprofit's site read her blog after her interview. "I really believe I lost that job offer because of careless blogging," said Riba, 35, of Melrose. "It was something I hadn't considered, and it taught me a lesson about discretion."

Riba, who now designs and writes software requirements for a Massachusetts company, hasn't stopped blogging, but she's developed a personal blogging policy, with rules such as not identifying her employer in online postings, not identifying colleagues, and not revealing proprietary information.

It's not just bloggers who may be at risk. College kids splashing personal information and photos across sites such as Facebook and MySpace may also be open to scrutiny by potential employers:

Employers hoping to gain insight into the character and personalities of job applicants are increasingly likely to peruse blogs, Google, and social sites such as MySpace.com and Friendster for clues about the applicants' likes, dislikes, and habits.
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Aware of the trend, college counselors are also advising students to watch what they say on social websites or post in blogs. The message: A suggestive photo, an obscene comment, or unsavory postings about one's private life could nix a job offer.

Probably the best policy is to be discrete. Have fun and be yourself. But also realize that what's out on the web is there for the world to see, and it represents you just as much as an in-person interview or resume does. It's all part of your personal, and professional, reputation, so think twice before you put it - whatever "it" may be - out there for all to see.