That’s always been somewhat true, at least in certain occupations, but recent research at Penn State concludes that being opinionated on social media turns off recruiters:
“Applying for a job? Don’t come across as self-absorbed on your Facebook page. Don’t express your strong views on potentially controversial topics either. … [J]ob recruiters are less likely to select candidates who appear to be too self-involved or opinionated in their social media posts.”
Why would you be posting under your real name, anyway? Apart from the employer problem, there’s a potential brick-through-your-window problem, today’s social conditions being what they are. Read story here.
HR departments actually do look for look for what people say on any platform whether or not the statements are under their own name. Many will ask for all media the candidate posts under. Don’t provide the employer will all the locations you post and names you post under and that gives the employer a reason to fire you. No matter what you said on line even if it was nice things about the employer. Sure there are folks in HR departments who don’t even bother to look up a college graduates face book posts or may wonder if the candidate is too vanilla or too good to be true if there isn’t a questionable photo on the page.