Googling Skills vs. Character

Employers are starting to turn to Google to do research on potential job candidates. This article talks about how some job candidates are finding that their personal online blogs are interfering with their ability to get a job.

When Ciara Healy applied for a job at a university, she had no idea her personal blog could get her into trouble. But when a member of the search committee Googled her, he found she had called him a “belligerent jerk,” though not by name, and canceled the interview. “I almost immediately deleted the blog,” wrote Healy via E-mail. For obvious reasons, Healy doesn’t think employers should Google candidates, but also because she doesn’t believe that one’s entire life should be up for review. “What is on the table at an interview should be skills, detectable levels of craziness, overall impression and a good fit in the workplace,” she writes, “not your foibles, rants, petty opinions or brilliant insights.”

Problem is, most employers value integrity over skills. A person with skills over integrity can often do the job well but it might come at a great price later once that employee becomes disgruntled, or feels like they are “owed” something. A person with integrity over skills, will often work hard to complete the task to the best of their ability and also do what it takes to improve their skills. Inevitably, it’s a win-win for everyone.