The JobSync Blog
Managing Your Reputation Online and Offline
February 13, 2012
Jobseekers are frequently warned to maintain a responsible online presence in social media venues. It’s well known that employers often access candidates’ profiles on sites such as Facebook and Twitter to try and get a sense of applicants’ personalities and judgment. And not a few candidates have had their credentials seriously undermined by posting unflattering pictures of themselves or writing offensive posts.
But what about materials you submit to a company, such as a cover letter, resume, or portfolio of your work? We all know this is a complex job market. So forwarding forthright, edgy items will distinguish you from the pack, and the company you submit them to can be trusted to maintain their confidentiality, right?
Not necessarily.
Recently, Yahoo Finance featured a cautionary tale of a New York University undergraduate student who submitted a boastful cover letter to an investment bank, only to watch helplessly as the letter was forwarded to a dozen other investment banks in New York City. The investment banking community is quite interconnected, so it’s no surprise the letter made the rounds as quickly as it did. The student quickly became the butt of jokes, and with claims like this, one can understand why:
“I am unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker I know, and I love self-improvement. I have always felt that my time should be spent wisely, so I continuously challenge myself... I decided to redouble my effort by placing out of two classes, taking two honors classes, and holding two part-time jobs. That semester I achieved a 3.93, and in the same time I managed to bench double my bodyweight and do 35 pull-ups.”
This incident should serve as a strong reminder that just because you safeguard your online presence, doesn’t mean an element of a job application can’t go viral online. This student may be able to bench double his bodyweight, but he is going to have a tough time lifting this albatross off from around his neck.
So remember: A little humility goes a long way, but a lack of humility make drag your reputation down a lot further.
Page: 1
