Yes, it’s fun sharing your views, photos, job experience and general way of life with friends and family via websites such as Facebook and Twitter or on blogs or forums.

In a recent article the German government warned potential job-seekers about their activities on these sites. More and more companies are using these websites to do research on potential candidates, before extending an invitation to a job interview. The study by the independent Dimap institute found that 28% of the around 500 German companies polled searched for information about their would-be employees’ hobbies, political opinions and personal lives. Three in four said they judged candidates negatively who complain about their jobs in public forums or post pictures of themselves at rowdy parties.

I did a bit of research on the ethics of pre-employment screening through the use of the Internet, and found it to be a widely discussed topic.

In the article “The Ethics of Pre-Employment Screening through the Use of the Internet” by Michael Jones, Adam Schuckman and Kelly Watson, they mention that in many cases, the information obtained from the Internet used to determine the suitability of a prospective employee had little or no bearing on their ability to adequately complete the work. In fact, 8% of the potential employees that were rejected as a result of information found on search engines and networking sites were rejected because their screen name was unprofessional.

Some employment prescreening also involves to “Google” an applicant. To “Google” a person means to make use of a search engine (such as Google.com) and searching on a person’s name. This can however result in many results unrelated to the specific individual.

Personally I think this is unethical. Your ability to succeed in a job can not be determined by information found on the Internet – information not even guaranteed to be factual or correct or relating to the individual being screened.

But just as Facebook can cost you a potential job, it can also get you fired from your current employment.

Although I doubt the legality of this in South Africa, Kimberley Swann was laid off when she thought her job was boring and she said so on her Facebook page. Her employer, Ivell Marketing and Logistics of Clacton, U.K., gave her this update: “Following your comments made on Facebook about your job and the company we feel it is better that, as you are not happy and do not enjoy your work we end your employment with Ivell Marketing & Logistics with immediate effect.” Kimberley told the Daily Telegraph: “I did not even put the company’s name, I just put that my job was boring. They were just being nosy, going through everything. I think it is really sad, it makes them look stupid that they are going to be so petty.”

Ottawa grocery store employees started a club and commenting online on their workplace – resulting in being out of work. Also Charlie Barrow, trader for Goldman Sachs, spent far too much time on Facebook causing him his job.

Whether legal or not, be careful of what footprint you leave in the online world. The keyboard can be mightier than the sword…