Job interview? Fork over Facebook Password

[Ryokan]

Though it's ironic how people don't mind someone at Facebook seeing their page because those people remain faceless.

How is that ironic?

If we're going to have things like Facebook, we just have to accept that the people behind it can access your data - just like the phone company can access your phone records, the bank can access your bank records, the library can access your library records, etc. It's something we have to accept to do business with these businesses.

But just because we have to trust our bank doesn't mean it's ironic if we don't trust others with our bank details. Just because we have to trust our phone company with our phone records, it doesn't make it ironic that we don't hand out our phone records to anyone who asks. I'm flabbergasted that you don't understand this, and try to make that point over and over again.

 

[Eddie Dane]

None. But they don't need your password just to read your FB page.

The only thing a password gives them is the ability to go in and add or remove content.

No, there is content you only share with your inner circle and there is an integrated private messaging service that has replaced email for many people. This communication is not public and asking for the password is literally the equivalent of asking for your email password.

 

[Ladewig]

I finally read the article in the OP.

I am surprised that anyone could read that article and still believe that asking for a password (or asking the applicant to log on to Facebook so that the interviewer can see private information) is appropriate.

They claim to be looking for evidence of past or ongoing crimes, gang affiliations, disparaging comments about previous employers. I am glad I do not have a Facebook account.

 

[Matthew Best]

I posted this story on my Facebook page. About an hour later my boss walked in and asked me to go round my entire shift and collect everyone's Facebook names and passwords and send them to him in an email.

I think he was joking.

 

[Babbylonian]

I posted this story on my Facebook page. About an hour later my boss walked in and asked me to go round my entire shift and collect everyone's Facebook names and passwords and send them to him in an email.

I think he was joking.

Of course he was. I'm sure he meant to send them to him in an encrypted email. Security first!

 

[Jekyll's Guest]

I would, however, become very wroth were I to learn that my accountant had gained access to my medical records, my doctor knew about Poopsie, and to come home to find my first grade teacher on my sofa, eating my distinctive Milano cookies.

I'd hope my doctor would, especially my proctologist.

 

[Halfcentaur]

No, I don't think Facebook is bad. I'm trying to understand why others here think that some other company who may be their employer might be any less trustworthy with their "private" information than Facebook.

Then again, you've already forked it over to another company: Facebook.

So much for privacy.

It seemed you implied these people had already used Facebook, so they got what they deserved in so many words. This quote implies that anyone who uses FB forfeits their privacy rights. The slippery slope you're on seems invisible to you.

 

[crimresearch]

Maybe that is the whole point, to sort out the "not desperate enough" ones. The kind of people how would object to other abuse from the company.

I have not experienced question that went beyond need to know.
E.g. handing over my passport to have it returned with a visa sticker, banking information so they knew how to pay me, scans of assorted certificates, etc.

As I said, the honesty test doesn't test for what people might think it tests for.

 

[crimresearch]

No, there is content you only share with your inner circle and there is an integrated private messaging service that has replaced email for many people. This communication is not public and asking for the password is literally the equivalent of asking for your email password.

They wouldn't need your password if you chose to let them *read* anything.

They would need it to go in and make posts, add or delete people, upload material, or send messages under your name.

None of which is a legitimate pre-employment requirement.

 

[tyr_13]

I'd let them see anything their costumers and employees could see*. Everything else in not germane to the interview. If asked for the actual password I'd have to politely decline to continue the interview.


*By the way, this would be nothing but my profile picture by my settings on FB.

 

[Pulvinar]

It seemed you implied these people had already used Facebook, so they got what they deserved in so many words. This quote implies that anyone who uses FB forfeits their privacy rights. The slippery slope you're on seems invisible to you.

It's not forfeiting privacy rights, only including one more company in this particular private circle.

I'm still amused here about how touchy people are about releasing what they post on Facebook (everyone I know only puts stuff they'd love to show to anyone there). Is it mostly younger people who assume Facebook is truly private?

 

[Morrigan]

I'm still amused at how deliberately obtuse you are and your insistence at ignoring all the refutations people have kindly thrown at you.

 

[crimresearch]

It's not forfeiting privacy rights, only including one more company in this particular private circle.

I'm still amused here about how touchy people are about releasing what they post on Facebook (everyone I know only puts stuff they'd love to show to anyone there). Is it mostly younger people who assume Facebook is truly private?

You keep repeating that strawman, when the topic from the thread title on out, is letting total strangers have your password for no legitimate reason.

 

[Ryokan]

I'm still amused here about how touchy people are about releasing what they post on Facebook (everyone I know only puts stuff they'd love to show to anyone there). Is it mostly younger people who assume Facebook is truly private?

I have no problems letting people see what I post on Facebook. In fact, my Facebook profile is set to be open to the public, so you don't need to be on my friends list to see it. Here you go:

http://www.facebook.com/robert.sandoy

However, I will not give you the password to my account, nor tell you what e-mail address my account is registered with. If you can't see the difference, then there's no point in continuing the discussion.

 

[Pulvinar]

You keep repeating that strawman, when the topic from the thread title on out, is letting total strangers have your password for no legitimate reason.

I wouldn't give it out either (just so I'd pass their security test), but really, is it that difficult to change your password after the interview?

 

[Toke]

I wouldn't give it out either (just so I'd pass their security test), but really, is it that difficult to change your password after the interview?

You are making this up as you go, right?

 

[Pulvinar]

You are making this up as you go, right?

I'm not reporting on actual interview in which I've been asked for my Facebook password, so in that sense yes, I am making it up as I go. I'd guess everyone here is.

 

[Toke]

I'm not reporting on actual interview in which I've been asked for my Facebook password, so in that sense yes, I am making it up as I go. I'd guess everyone here is.

Not so sure.
I am not using my facebook account that much but would still not hand out the ability to post in my name to anyone.

 

[triforcharity]

You don't need someone's password to see what they have posted on Facebook. The only thing you need a password for is either to change something or see private correspondence.

You will see nothing by my profile picture on mine without being my actual friend on facebook. Not even friends of friends can see my information.

And my profile pic is a non-descript picture.

But, I am absolutely not giving my password to anyone.

 

[triforcharity]

I wouldn't give it out either (just so I'd pass their security test), but really, is it that difficult to change your password after the interview?

Well, unless they've already changed it, and set your email to theirs. Then, it's their account.