The Social Search…The new Background check

Yes, I am currently on the market as they call it. Meaning I am applying for jobs in higher ed. and with any luck I will have a great opportunity at a wonderful institution where I can teach and conduct scholarly research. The reason for this post is mainly that I am interested in the concept of the social search or when a company performs a search of your online identity to help them in making a hiring decision. This has been happening for years now with for-profit companies and some nonprofits as well. However, I haven’t really heard of it happening with higher Ed or in social work and I wonder if any of the institutions to which I am applying are employing this tactic?

I don’t really know for sure, but tonight I received an alert that someone had searched for me on Google and found one of my social media profiles. Thankfully, I am pretty thoughtful about what I post online as I realize that companies currently do conduct these kinds of searches. Plus, I just am not that crazy when it comes to posting dumb content online (or personal content I should say). If there is a photo or something I don’t like on Facebook, then I untag myself or ask my friend/family member to take it down. I don’t mind and so far they haven’t either. I just think it’s amazing that in this day and age I can receive an alert about someone searching for me online. Although I don’t know who it is, it is just kind of neat that I know someone is looking for me and I hope they find what they need 😀