Want a job? Sure, just give me your Facebook password...

[DrFaroohk]

The problem with taking these extra measures (having a seperate facebook account) is it's sort of like telling these bigwigs "It's totally ok to be a conniving ass".

I'd do something like set up my facebook page so anyone who logged in instantly gets some sort of massive computer virus. Yeah, I know, probably not possible. But someone needs to teach these guys that they cannot act like that.

[freeatlast]

When I started looking for a new job, my Mom suggested I change my facebook profile picture. The previous one showed me drinking margaritas from the bottle with a straw. It was taken at a Jimmy Buffet concert and seemed fun at the time, but I figured Mom was right. No sense in having a prospective employer see that and decide not to hire me. But I would most definitely NOT give my login and password to anybody.

[Dreamstalker]

I did have two accounts, but sometime in the last few 'privacy updates' they were merged. Not sure how or why... A few of the people I know on FB I would never want for real character references.

But if I wanted to be really evil, I could hand over my info, then log into another computer and post some stuff that would piss a lot of people off and get the attention of the papers. Then when they came to me about it, I'd tell them, "What, me? I didn't post any of that! Prospective Employer must have done it, he had my login info!"

That's what I was thinking. Verbal authorization, especially for something like login info, can be hard to prove. This also runs afoul of one of my state's computer laws involving unauthorized access. I wonder what would happen if someone going for a computer security position refused (as they should) to give their password?

This reminds me of my sentence at the game store and the ebay login. I wasn't the only person who had it; the owner would then go behind my back, log in and change listings and prices to be able to yell at me.

[Andara Bledin]

Facebook is weighing in and stating that may sue employers who ask for applicants' passwords.

Article at Ars Technica

Also, separately, a senator from CT is drafting legislation to specifically prohibit potential employers from requesting credentials or passwords from applicants.

^-.-^

[jackfaire]

Growing up on the internet I was taught, "don't use your real name" so my facebook isn't under my real name. If work wants to find me good fucking luck.

[tropicsgoddess]

That's downright invasive and that just brings potential discrimination lawsuits to employers. Why I say that is because if an employer decided not to hire a candidate because of seeing something they didn't like (ie. sexual orientation, religious/political views) they could be sued for discrimination and the ACLU would be all over that like flies to shit. I would NEVER work for an employer that required me to give up my Facebook log in for them to snoop around on my profile. Same goes for if they require that I friend somebody from a member of management to be able to act as a spy and snoop on my Facebook profile too. To me that says that the employer doesn't trust in their employees and/or candidates in being discreet in their postings and that the company is so paranoid. The whole practice of employers requiring candidates to allow them to snoop on their Facebook account is as intrusive as asking for the keys to my house and car just to "judge my character as an employee or candidate".

UPDATE: Facebook softens their stand on employers violating applicant privacy. Link!

With Facebook softening their stance on employers requiring the log ins from applicants is just bullshit. I was happy when they were all for privacy but now it seems that with stakeholders they're caving to them. WTF?!