November 14, 2008

The Obama administration job application: Is keeping your nose clean online and off so much for a high-profile employer to ask?

• 1 Comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

How far would you go to secure the job of your dreams? Would you be willing to provide piles of personal and professional records, as well as those of your immediate family? How about all traces of your digital footprint -- from blogs posts to text messages to social network pages?

That's what hopeful high-ranking officials in the Obama administration are being asked to provide. According to the New York Times:

"The vetting process for executive branch jobs has been onerous for decades, with each incoming administration erecting new barriers in an effort to avoid the mistakes of the past, or the controversies of the present. It is typically updated to reflect technological change (there was no Facebook the last time a new president came to town)."

But, as the New York Times reports, the seven-page questionnaire for those seeking to join the highest ranks of the Obama administration is likely the most extensive that would-be cabinet members and top officials have ever seen, in part because it attempts to leave no digital stone unturned.

Per the New York Times, applicants must "include any e-mail that might embarrass the president-elect, along with any blog posts and links to their Facebook pages." In addition, applicants are asked to "please list all aliases or 'handles' you have used to communicate on the Internet."

Over at Brazen Careerist, some Gen Y bloggers have their laptop chargers in a twist over this news, saying that the incoming administration is out of touch and that such application requests would pretty much rule out anyone who's currently under 35 for a future job in a future White House administration a couple decades down the line.

I strongly disagree. I don't know about the folks making a stink on Brazen Careerist, but most under-35 folks I've interviewed in the past couple of years know how to keep their online persona professional and are glad to do it. Probably because it's been widely reported that employers -- in the White House or otherwise -- won't hesitate to rule out candidates who publicly display embarrassing photos of their beer bong days on their Facebook page. 

Besides, if you know anyone in law, politics, or public service, you know that maintaining a squeaky-clean image is essential for them. So there's no room for misinterpretation, many attorneys, political workers, and teachers shy away from posting online profiles at all. And those who do blog or participate in online social networks know not to post anything they wouldn't paste on their door at work for all their coworkers and clients, constituents, or students to see.

Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle at mgoodman@nwjobs.com

• 1 Comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Read more

1 Comments

Lisa P on November 21, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply

If you plan on working for the President Elect in his cabinet or staff, then he wants to know everything about you. Trust me, when he says everything, he means it. The application and screening is so intrusive, he might as well throw in credit repair while he’s at it. The 7 page, 63 question packet, inquires about anything and everything they can think of. Applicants must readily discuss everything they and their spouses have done in the last 10 years. They must list every iota of published work, such as books, articles submitted to journals, even things they have written on the internet, along with any and all aliases that were used in the creation and submission of said work. Also, any and all e-mails or text messages that have been sent that could be damaging. And finally, any website URL of any website you use in a personal or professional capacity, such as MySpace or FaceBook. Oh, and this is only 3 of the questions. Free credit repair should come free with any litany of personal information that in depth.

Leave a comment

* required field

Your name: *

E-mail address: (Will not be displayed)

Your comment: *

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.