It’s called ‘Social Intelligence’, but sounds like an oxymoron.
Since its emergence on the scene, there has been a bit of an uproar around the interwebs. I guess everyone thought those drunk Tweets on Spring Break wouldn’t effect them when they tried to land their first job after graduating.
Our digital age captures our history, thoughts, ideas and patterns more than ever before, and employers are using it to better evaluate who they hire.
Who can blame them?
Hiring someone is a huge investment, and in many situations, letting people go has its own set of difficulties. Social Intelligence is a service that makes Googleing potential job candidates a thing of the past, and for good reason!
You see, if you are looking to hire someone, simply Googleing their name, pulling them up on Facebook and trolling their blog can lead to lawsuits.
Here’s how Social Intelligence explains it:
- If an employer Google’s job candidates …
- Then employers are vulnerable to discrimination charges and other legal risks …
- And job candidates are vulnerable to having their privacy violated and being unlawfully discriminated against.
Have you ever looked someone up before hiring them?
- If an employer doesn’t Google job candidates …
- Then employers are vulnerable to risky hires …
- And job candidates may not be recognized for assets, achievements and contributions.
I think that last point is pure copy-write candy. Assets, achievements and contributions will be on the candidates resume.
This is where Social Intelligence makes their sell:
- If an employer uses Social Intelligence for hiring ….
- Then employers can safely screen job applicants …
- And job candidates are protected from discrimination and are recognized for their qualifications.
Protected from discrimination, yes, recognized for their qualifications? Again, with the copy-write candy. Unless, of course, writing in under 140 or less is a qualification.
The dudes over at Gizmodo gave Social Intelligence a test drive, and found that it does a decent job of keeping things like race and religion safe. I’m all for it. I think the only people really bent out of shape about it, are those that want to keep things they aren’t proud of swept under the rug.
What about LinkedIn? Where does a service like that fit in to all of this? You can provide links to your blog, Twitter and anything else.
Like I said before, our digital age captures our history, thoughts, ideas and patterns more than ever before. As Christians, we should have nothing to worry about. Our lives should be fairly transparent. However, if you’re looking to be hired and they see your “new baby on the way” announcement on your Facebook, they may decide not to hire you, and no one knows it ever happened.
New technologies bring us new challenges, so new solutions must be found.
Is Social Intelligence that solution?
As Christians, we should always be mindful of our behavior. Not being hired because we filled-out the religion field on Facebook shouldn’t happen, either.
What do you think?
[via Gizmodo and Social Intelligence | Image via gerlos and Shovelling Son]
Todd miechiels says
Eric
The315project.com this potential issue to a whole other level. What would happen to the one who publicly puts their hope in Christ out there on the web. There are many scriptures to look towards and I’m digging for the truth with an eternal perspective (on a bold day!)
Thanks for asking the tough question and making us stop and think.
Todd
Eric Dye says
Checked out the315project … very cool.
Todd says
Thanks
I’m looking for some authors, pastors, and leaders to interview for a compendium book if you or anyone you know would be interested
Todd miechiels says
You got me thinking more so I looked up some commentary on 1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts – In Isaiah Isa 8:13 this is, “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;” that is, in that connection, regard him as your Protector, and be afraid of him, and not of what man can do. The sense in the passage before us is, “In your hearts, or in the affections of the soul, regard the Lord God as holy, and act toward him with that confidence which a proper respect for one so great and so holy demands. In the midst of dangers, be not intimidated; dread not what man can do, but evince proper reliance on a holy God, and flee to him with the confidence which is due to one so glorious.” This contains, however, a more general direction, applicable to Christians at all times. It is, that in our hearts we are to esteem God as a holy being, and in all our deportment to act toward him as such. The object of Peter in quoting the passage from Isaiah, was to lull the fears of those whom he addressed, and preserve them from any alarms in view of the persecutions to which they might be exposed; the trials which would be brought upon them by people. Thus, in entire accordance with the sentiment as employed by Isaiah, he says, “Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” That is, “in order to keep the mind calm in trials, sanctify the Lord in your hearts; regard him as your holy God and Saviour; make him your refuge. This will allay all your fears, and secure you from all that you dread.” The sentiment of the passage then is, that the sanctifying of the Lord God in our hearts, or proper confidence in him as a holy and righteous God, will deliver us from fear.
Eric Dye says
Thanks for sharing what you found, Todd!
Neil @ Looking Towards Home says
“Unless, of course, writing in under 140 or less is a qualification.”
I would see this as a bonus if you’re applying in some form of media.
The sciency journal I work for quantifies its tasks in number of characters including spaces (150 ch/sp for abstracts, 75 ch/sp for figure legends…)
This has gotten a lot easier since I have practiced so much with meta description and title tags this year.
Eric Dye says
Ha!