Will this hurt my chances at finding employment? What should I do?
June 22, 2015 7:55 AM Subscribe
Due to my interests I have an extremely visible presence online, and I want to know if this will negatively impact my ability to find work and, if so, how to work around that without sacrificing what is important to me.
As some of you that follow my questions are aware, in December of 2013 I was in a horrible accident while working as a transport truck driver, and this accident has, according to my doctor, has rendered me "unable to continue working in the trucking industry." In lieu of this, I am enrolled in a software development program at a small college near where I live to hopefully have skills that are more suited to my abilities.
At the orientation the head of eduction talked about how our activities outside of the classroom can impact if we find employment or not, especially if a prospective employer finds this information (ex. photos) online. An example she used was a student that was in a legal aide program, and when an employer was interested, the employer later found a photo of her on Facebook holding marijuana and declined to take her on for an internship for that reason.
Understandable, it is noting I haven't heard before, but what I am concerned about is if my online activities and interests will impact my schooling.
Although I don't participate in the usually cited behaviors of intoxication, drug use, etc. as I don't party late at night and never have, I don't drink alcoholic beverages and never have, I don't do drugs and never have, nor do I associate with anyone that chooses to do those things, I do have an extremely visible online presence due to the interests that I have.
Three of the interests that I have that can be traced back to me are politics, keeping venomous arthropods, and photography.
I love current events, international relations, foreign policy, etc., and I have written many OP-ed pieces and articles for dozens of left-wing media outlets, NGOs, including the United Nations. If someone searches my name on a search engine they will be flooded with articles I have written on drone warfare, ISIS, the environment, economic policies, and conflict zones in Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc., much of which I espouse views antithetical to mainstream perceptions. My website, also searchable online, is where I display my work like most other authors do. Furthermore, I am working on publishing my first book about post-Cold War conflict zones, albeit it might be a while before that is anywhere near completion.
On a lesser scale I am an award-winning amateur insect photography and I raise venomous arthropods, such as tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes. If you search for an image of a tarantula or insect, it is likely that among the results will include a photo I took of one in the wild or one in my care, depending on the species.
Now I like to think that these are hardly the worst interests and lifestyle choices of 24-year-old, however I don't presume to know how these will be interpreted to any prospective employers, and I worry that they will negatively impact my ability to find work in the field I am in school for once I graduate.
Some input would be appreciated. Thank you
As some of you that follow my questions are aware, in December of 2013 I was in a horrible accident while working as a transport truck driver, and this accident has, according to my doctor, has rendered me "unable to continue working in the trucking industry." In lieu of this, I am enrolled in a software development program at a small college near where I live to hopefully have skills that are more suited to my abilities.
At the orientation the head of eduction talked about how our activities outside of the classroom can impact if we find employment or not, especially if a prospective employer finds this information (ex. photos) online. An example she used was a student that was in a legal aide program, and when an employer was interested, the employer later found a photo of her on Facebook holding marijuana and declined to take her on for an internship for that reason.
Understandable, it is noting I haven't heard before, but what I am concerned about is if my online activities and interests will impact my schooling.
Although I don't participate in the usually cited behaviors of intoxication, drug use, etc. as I don't party late at night and never have, I don't drink alcoholic beverages and never have, I don't do drugs and never have, nor do I associate with anyone that chooses to do those things, I do have an extremely visible online presence due to the interests that I have.
Three of the interests that I have that can be traced back to me are politics, keeping venomous arthropods, and photography.
I love current events, international relations, foreign policy, etc., and I have written many OP-ed pieces and articles for dozens of left-wing media outlets, NGOs, including the United Nations. If someone searches my name on a search engine they will be flooded with articles I have written on drone warfare, ISIS, the environment, economic policies, and conflict zones in Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc., much of which I espouse views antithetical to mainstream perceptions. My website, also searchable online, is where I display my work like most other authors do. Furthermore, I am working on publishing my first book about post-Cold War conflict zones, albeit it might be a while before that is anywhere near completion.
On a lesser scale I am an award-winning amateur insect photography and I raise venomous arthropods, such as tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes. If you search for an image of a tarantula or insect, it is likely that among the results will include a photo I took of one in the wild or one in my care, depending on the species.
Now I like to think that these are hardly the worst interests and lifestyle choices of 24-year-old, however I don't presume to know how these will be interpreted to any prospective employers, and I worry that they will negatively impact my ability to find work in the field I am in school for once I graduate.
Some input would be appreciated. Thank you
I think you will be okay.
I also think you're ahead of the pack when it comes to realizing just how our online activities can come back, zombie-like, to haunt us.
My assumption here is that there isn't anything overly inflammatory on your website; you're not calling for an overthrow of the government or wanting to join Anonymous or anything like that. It sounds like you're more of a scholar than an op-ed writer.
I hesitate to call for self-censorship, but if any of your past articles cause you hesitation and may not pass the smell test, it might be better to retire them from such a public place as your website.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 8:02 AM on June 22, 2015
I also think you're ahead of the pack when it comes to realizing just how our online activities can come back, zombie-like, to haunt us.
My assumption here is that there isn't anything overly inflammatory on your website; you're not calling for an overthrow of the government or wanting to join Anonymous or anything like that. It sounds like you're more of a scholar than an op-ed writer.
I hesitate to call for self-censorship, but if any of your past articles cause you hesitation and may not pass the smell test, it might be better to retire them from such a public place as your website.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 8:02 AM on June 22, 2015
Seconding that none of this would raise any flags with me were I a hiring manager. Not even the politics thing, unless it's virulently extreme on either side of the spectrum, and then only if it's the sort of thing you'd feel compelled to share with customers who might not share your viewpoints (yeah, it's happened).
posted by jquinby at 8:03 AM on June 22, 2015
posted by jquinby at 8:03 AM on June 22, 2015
Generally won't be a problem unless the prospective employer disagrees with your politics, which could influence their decision. But arguably it could swing the other way as well and make a prospective employer like you more. Depending on the field you go into, I generally don't see it to be a problem for you - especially something like software engineering that may be politically agnostic.
If you are concerned about the future, consider adopting a pen name unlinkable to your real name.
posted by Karaage at 8:03 AM on June 22, 2015
If you are concerned about the future, consider adopting a pen name unlinkable to your real name.
posted by Karaage at 8:03 AM on June 22, 2015
The only one that could bite you is the politics thing. I don't know what your arguments or conclusions are, but yes, if the person who reads your articles finds your arguments wrongheaded or offensive, it's entirely likely that will factor into decisions to bring you in or not. (I am a hiring person and I have had to make this call.)
The arthropod photography would probably give you the edge to get an interview with me because I think that is awesome and I like people who are accomplished outside of work and have interesting hobbies. For most it would probably be neutral.
The book would probably be a plus in general.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:15 AM on June 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
The arthropod photography would probably give you the edge to get an interview with me because I think that is awesome and I like people who are accomplished outside of work and have interesting hobbies. For most it would probably be neutral.
The book would probably be a plus in general.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:15 AM on June 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Two things that I would think about if I were in your shoes:
-Does your industry use LinkedIn or other platforms that recruiters/VPs, etc., use to find employees? I would populate that and put a profile up. I would start developing a portfolio related to your desired job, and link it. LinkedIn comes up pretty high in any search for a person's name, and that can be your top professional identity.
-Nthing comments by others. It is a two way street in terms of looking for a job. Do you want to work for someone who would not be tolerant of your views?
-One thing that I haven't seen people mention is that you can also think about criteria that you have for an eventual job. For some people, they want their work life to be toward a cause that they believe in. Others like to have to have a job overlap with their interests (and/or provide a place or environment where you can learn more about an interest). For that reason, if I were in your shoes, I would consider places of employment such as: Academic publisher, education, university (pretty tolerant of political views and people in a biology department would love you), the NGOs that you write for. Target them as potential employers.
posted by Wolfster at 8:50 AM on June 22, 2015 [5 favorites]
-Does your industry use LinkedIn or other platforms that recruiters/VPs, etc., use to find employees? I would populate that and put a profile up. I would start developing a portfolio related to your desired job, and link it. LinkedIn comes up pretty high in any search for a person's name, and that can be your top professional identity.
-Nthing comments by others. It is a two way street in terms of looking for a job. Do you want to work for someone who would not be tolerant of your views?
-One thing that I haven't seen people mention is that you can also think about criteria that you have for an eventual job. For some people, they want their work life to be toward a cause that they believe in. Others like to have to have a job overlap with their interests (and/or provide a place or environment where you can learn more about an interest). For that reason, if I were in your shoes, I would consider places of employment such as: Academic publisher, education, university (pretty tolerant of political views and people in a biology department would love you), the NGOs that you write for. Target them as potential employers.
posted by Wolfster at 8:50 AM on June 22, 2015 [5 favorites]
This all seems fairly tame for software development, especially if you don't have your heart set on working at someplace like a bank. As long as you don't make a big deal of your politics during the interview process or bring in any insects with you, I can't imagine many will care.
I would definitely start building a web presence around your chosen career as Wolfster suggests. LinkedIn, GitHub account with interesting projects from your education or free time, etc...
posted by zachlipton at 9:28 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would definitely start building a web presence around your chosen career as Wolfster suggests. LinkedIn, GitHub account with interesting projects from your education or free time, etc...
posted by zachlipton at 9:28 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seconding the calls to build up a presence in the field you want.
Something to consider: all those hobbies sound like you could spin them into a demonstrated proficiency in useful job skills. Your photography may play into web design. Your book and articles may demonstrate good communication skills and an ability to look at problems from alternate perspectives. Since your articles have been picked up by big names I don't think you'll be able to put that particular genie back into the bottle. I'd get in front of this with potential employers and link to a couple of your tamer articles or your book, either in your resume (if you've got a lot of extra space) or in a cover letter.
posted by estelahe at 10:18 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Something to consider: all those hobbies sound like you could spin them into a demonstrated proficiency in useful job skills. Your photography may play into web design. Your book and articles may demonstrate good communication skills and an ability to look at problems from alternate perspectives. Since your articles have been picked up by big names I don't think you'll be able to put that particular genie back into the bottle. I'd get in front of this with potential employers and link to a couple of your tamer articles or your book, either in your resume (if you've got a lot of extra space) or in a cover letter.
posted by estelahe at 10:18 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm of the opinion that an employer who would not be pleased to learn that I am a person who cheers for sports teams, runs road races, feels strongly about feminism, and loves to read, and addresses these things in social media, is not the right employer for me.
posted by kat518 at 10:19 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kat518 at 10:19 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think the insect photography is fascinating! I don't see that hurting you in any way - in fact, it makes you sound more interesting.
With the politics, I can only see that as a major obstacle if you are very out of step with the area you live in - for instance, are you a liberal atheist in a very conservative, religious part of the country? That might cause some problems, though certainly not on the level of, say, pictures of you passed out drunk. The software industry is not stuffy and prudish, on the whole; there is more leeway for you here than in some more conservative or image-conscious industries.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:35 AM on June 22, 2015
With the politics, I can only see that as a major obstacle if you are very out of step with the area you live in - for instance, are you a liberal atheist in a very conservative, religious part of the country? That might cause some problems, though certainly not on the level of, say, pictures of you passed out drunk. The software industry is not stuffy and prudish, on the whole; there is more leeway for you here than in some more conservative or image-conscious industries.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:35 AM on June 22, 2015
If you are applying to a military contractor or drone company, they might not care for some of that. But maybe you'd rather not work there either.
posted by yohko at 3:57 PM on June 22, 2015
posted by yohko at 3:57 PM on June 22, 2015
I worked in a small software shop that did excellent work with a niche product, and I was the owners' right hand man.
The owner handed me a resume of a qualified candidate. The owner paid no attention to politics, but my jaw dropped to see the applicant's previous job was at an (in)famous right wing think tank/advocacy group. The applicant told us he was very committed to those issues, and I told the boss he would be a huge disruption to our happy family of nearly 50% female developers, lots of powerful female clients, and nearly the entire staff with working spouses, kids in daycare, varied faiths from atheists to Muslims ...
While our staff and clients very much represented most of modern (middle class) America, I knew it clashed with the "traditional America" values of the applicant's previous employer.
We were also a very small, tight company and bringing in that kind of element would have fractured a lot of our cohesiveness and ability to get stuff done as a team.
A large employer may have taken him, but he wasn't a culture match for us.
If you end up doing contract work for the big consultancies, you might end up getting government work and needing security clearances. They need clearances for even the most boring projects! Your past might put a ceiling on how far you can get with the security clearances; I'm not really sure what they look at for the higher levels.
So maybe stick with industry work, and of course find a company with a good culture match.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but review all of it and prepare to be asked about anything too inflammatory.
posted by littlewater at 7:46 PM on June 22, 2015
The owner handed me a resume of a qualified candidate. The owner paid no attention to politics, but my jaw dropped to see the applicant's previous job was at an (in)famous right wing think tank/advocacy group. The applicant told us he was very committed to those issues, and I told the boss he would be a huge disruption to our happy family of nearly 50% female developers, lots of powerful female clients, and nearly the entire staff with working spouses, kids in daycare, varied faiths from atheists to Muslims ...
While our staff and clients very much represented most of modern (middle class) America, I knew it clashed with the "traditional America" values of the applicant's previous employer.
We were also a very small, tight company and bringing in that kind of element would have fractured a lot of our cohesiveness and ability to get stuff done as a team.
A large employer may have taken him, but he wasn't a culture match for us.
If you end up doing contract work for the big consultancies, you might end up getting government work and needing security clearances. They need clearances for even the most boring projects! Your past might put a ceiling on how far you can get with the security clearances; I'm not really sure what they look at for the higher levels.
So maybe stick with industry work, and of course find a company with a good culture match.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but review all of it and prepare to be asked about anything too inflammatory.
posted by littlewater at 7:46 PM on June 22, 2015
This all seems fairly tame for software development, ...
This is incredibly tame for software development.
I've interviewed all kinds of people over the years for engineering jobs, and I think I've only taken the after hours hobbies of a candidate into consideration once. It was a guy who wanted us to know up front he sometimes flew to Miami (from Los Angeles) after work Fridays to DJ all weekend. And he was pretty clear he meant all weekend. He answered with a wink when we asked how he could go 60ish hours without sleep and come back to work on Monday.
posted by sideshow at 5:02 PM on June 25, 2015
This is incredibly tame for software development.
I've interviewed all kinds of people over the years for engineering jobs, and I think I've only taken the after hours hobbies of a candidate into consideration once. It was a guy who wanted us to know up front he sometimes flew to Miami (from Los Angeles) after work Fridays to DJ all weekend. And he was pretty clear he meant all weekend. He answered with a wink when we asked how he could go 60ish hours without sleep and come back to work on Monday.
posted by sideshow at 5:02 PM on June 25, 2015
« Older I need an app launcher, for a single app, not the... | I'm getting real tiled of your dirty grout Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:58 AM on June 22, 2015 [14 favorites]