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I was approached on LinkedIn about a job that seemed interesting. I was contacted by someone from HR, not a recruiter. Said person gave me the link to apply. Before I had the chance to apply, I was contacted again and asked NOT to apply.
The reason? They had found my FB profile and didn’t approve of my cover photo and profile pic which show me diving. I was told my hobby was too dangerous. I was surprised and simply responded that I was sorry they felt that way, nothing more.
gimmethesimplelife
7-6-18, 11:46pm
I was approached on LinkedIn about a job that seemed interesting. I was contacted by someone from HR, not a recruiter. Said person gave me the link to apply. Before I had the chance to apply, I was contacted again and asked NOT to apply.
The reason? They had found my FB profile and didn’t approve of my cover photo and profile pic which show me diving. I was told my hobby was too dangerous. I was surprised and simply responded that I was sorry they felt that way, nothing more.Some people believe we live in a free country. Here is proof otherwise. I'm just glad you did not leave your job or get in any serious stages of the employment process so that it's easy (though very creepy and disconcerting and scary, too) to let this go. And set your FB privacy settings as high as they can go. Rob
What! That is just crazy in my opinion. I understand social media that is political or offensive in some way, maybe showing a party lifestyle. But DIVING, I never thought it was that dangerous when done safely like you obviously dive. Besides that is on your own time, none of their business. I can't believe this crazy stuff, are they a reputable organization/ business?
My profile pic is my grandbaby with one of several Yoda stuffies. I am an admin to several Buddhist groups, hopefully our tendency to unleash peace won't be an issue.
I am sorry, I know you have been open to a new position for some time now.
Some people believe we live in a free country. Here is proof otherwise. I'm just glad you did not leave your job or get in any serious stages of the employment process so that it's easy (though very creepy and disconcerting and scary, too) to let this go. And set your FB privacy settings as high as they can go. Rob
My page is locked down but your cover photo and profile pic are public. I’d have thought that diving was very unobjectionable!
I make sure to keep politics and the like off FB. It’s primarily diving on FB. People love my pics and videos. My other hobby (which I’ll admit has suffered since I started diving) is not mentioned on FB at all. I have other places I discuss that (hobby specific forums).
Yipes!
I think that means I must be unemployable, if "dangerous activities" is the new standard.
iris lilies
7-7-18, 12:49am
That is crazy!
Oh no, i post a lot of crochet. Could be at risk for an excessive crochet injury
I would think more employers would find it favorable. It's a healthy and interesting hobby.
What are they going to do next, send a spy to peer into people's back yards to see if they have trampolines?
gimmethesimplelife
7-7-18, 8:50am
What are they going to do next, send a spy to peer into people's back yards to see if they have trampolines?Nah.....much more cost effective to send over a drone to do the spying/take photographic proof. Rob
Don't put anything on social media that you would not want on a massive banner. You are in charge.
BTW, I see nothing wrong with having an interest in diving or swimming or tennis or a trampoline or skiing or ... Choose what you are comfortable sharing and so be it.
Seemed to me that this was an interview to avoid anyway, Tradd.
Don't put anything on social media that you would not want on a massive banner. You are in charge.
BTW, I see nothing wrong with having an interest in diving or swimming or tennis or a trampoline or skiing or ... Choose what you are comfortable sharing and so be it.
Seemed to me that this was an interview to avoid anyway, Tradd.
Razz, I think that's the point--I don't want anything on a "massive banner," and I think posting on Facebook can be quite deleterious to one's economic future, in this era of universal surveillance.
iris lilies
7-7-18, 10:39am
Tradd, While crazy and annoying was the HR person’s behaviour, ya gotta be a little bit proud at the Badass image you projected to her! Intimidating you are.
On a related note, I cant even read the other thread where you posted comments from divers about the boys in
thailand. It is all so horrifying. Ugh. Awful.
That is too weird. I have to believe it is a prank.
mschrisgo2
7-7-18, 11:49am
Not as uncommon as you might think... My early 20s grandsons report that the First thing prospective employers look at is your FB page and any where else they can find you on social media, even before completely reading a resume or application materials.
I know this to be true for many teaching jobs as well. The boys cautioned me about having pictures with them so prominently posted- "full grown grandsons, you are OLD!" (Incidentally, that was a plus when I applied for a part time tutoring gig this past spring; I am obviously basically retired and wouldn't be leaving to take a full time job.)
We had a lot of fun looking at pages and making assumptions about the people based on was was posted. I have quite a number of friends on FB who use scenery as the cover photo and a pet's face as the profile picture for exactly this reason.
Oh, and if your friends list is in any way accessible, they run through until they find an opening to get to your page. Again, not as difficult as you might wish.
ApatheticNoMore
7-7-18, 12:41pm
at a certain point it's in the realm of can't be helped, I mean yes noone shouldn't post pictures of being passed out on the floor drunk but beyond that. So one decides not to have any social media accounts say, but I've heard even that can be seen as suspicious as well, like: "why doesn't this person have any social media accounts?". Or one is afraid of one's age being known say, but one can't hide that that easily, if they know your name and the town you are living in they can often easily find your age from a simple search engine search (yes this depends on how common one's name is, how big the town one lives in, if they still live in their hometown or have been where they are a long time etc. but the information is often out there....).
I think the HR person was foolish for rejecting for that reason BUT they did you a favor in letting you know why they did so, as someone else might think likewise. It really is so rare to get any feedback.
iris lilies
7-7-18, 12:43pm
That is too weird. I have to believe it is a prank.
That makes sense, maybe so.
Tradd, While crazy and annoying was the HR person’s behaviour, ya gotta be a little bit proud at the Badass image you projected to her! Intimidating you are.
On a related note, I cant even read the other thread where you posted comments from divers about the boys in
thailand. It is all so horrifying. Ugh. Awful.
Didn’t even think about it that way! Fun! Can you imagine the reaction to my other hobby? LOL
I’m leaving diving pics up. I’m very careful to keep the other hobby off FB.
Just because one company (or their HR dept) thinks it too dangerous, doesn’t mean everyone does. If a company said, quit diving or we won’t hire you, I wouldn’t take the job!
I agree with you on your handling of both hobbies Tradd. I can see the other hobby pushing someone's buttons, especially nowadays. I can also easily imagine you mentioning diving in an interview, so if diving was going to be a deal-breaker, you saved yourself the time, effort & stress of a fruitless interview.
Most people are fascinated with the diving, especially with what I dive. It’s not the usual tropical stuff!
Tradd, what's the "other" hobby?
That HR person was stupid. You'd think someone would like to hire someone who chases difficult goals. There is obviously a lot of planning involved to be a safe diver and a lot of perseverance. All things you'd think a good company would want. If they can't see that, well you dodged a bullet.
iris lilies
7-8-18, 10:23am
Tradd, what's the "other" hobby?....
we do not speak of that here.
If we told you, we would have to kill you. By gun.
we do not speak of that here.
If we told you, we would have to kill you. By gun.:laff:
we do not speak of that here.
If we told you, we would have to kill you. By gun.
https://i.imgur.com/TcDzUV4.jpg
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