REFLECTIONS ON
How to Click and Clean
Andy Simmons
Reader’s Digest: June issue
Pg 72-77

This article generally talks of the internet and how employers are making use of the internet to check on future employees and determine their credibility of their résumés. Andy Simmons advises Myspace addicts and Facebook users to take precaution and not put all trust in profiles that claims to be private.

From this article, a fact is emphasized strongly within. Time and again, many have abused the rights of internet users, from cyber bullying to the hacking of accounts. There is no true safety in cyberspace, where even the most advanced Norton protection cannot thoroughly filter all content of the World Wide Web. Evidently, this is why so many employers are able to have a first hand view of their employee’s personal life.

The thought that your job is at stake is scary, but knowing your boss had been sifting through each comment and picture in your Myspace account makes it even worse. A word or comment that deems disagreeable by your boss may result in you packing your files and your new name plate into the brown box you dread the most; everything your post online will hinder the possibility of you getting the job. Mr. Simmons had proved this by giving the example of Mr. Karsh, of whom had rejected a brilliant candidate because of his “number one interest”-smoking blunts with the homies. Even though it seems impossible, 8% (as shown in blue on Pg 75) of job post-interviewees used an unprofessional screen name, which unfortunately made them become jobless.

People have deluded themselves for years that firewalls and passwords kept the unwanted at bay in the internet, but that is not true. It is a known fact that nothing is impossible. What isn’t achieved today may happen tomorrow. A little self-humour, as seen from the instance of Chris Skiles, is not funny when his former employers took time to read it, understand it and takes it to heart. Is it worth it to throw a good reference away for some two-minute idiocy? I think not.

Speaking of publicized personal information, I understand that us, the IT generation, is somewhat aware of how one thing leads to the other in the virtual world. Most of us are smart enough not to diss every single thing that we disapprove of in our blogs, but some exceptions draw us disgrace when they post ‘I hate xxx! Curse you for eternity!’ in their’s. It is unwise, and will most probably make people have a bad impression of you if you express your opinions as freely as that. I myself have criticized (unfairly or not, it does not lie for me to decide) on things I may not have understood fully, but I think it is meager enough to not ruin any chances of me getting a job. Beth Murphy is a role model for users of the internet, where her webpage is overall presented positively, and the bad side of her there just balances out.

It is a blessing that companies like ‘Reputation-Defender’ is set up to help people in distress; all the rubbish you’ve put online will be removed just by recursive searching. These services will certainly clear the names of many, and perhaps the removal of these small mistakes will let you repent and shine further in your lives; those whose names was spread vehemently by jealous haters can finally live in peace after this.

As quoted from Andy Simmons, “These new business models serve to remind us that the World Wide Web is still the Wild, Wild West.” An advice? You’ve got to watch your back.

*the end :DD*

Leck Choon Ling
3G (15)