How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job
Photo credit: Victoria-Ann
I saw this exchange on Twitter, which is a painful lesson in how NOT to use Twitter in this tough economy.
A lucky job applicant tweeted the following:
Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.
This tweet caught the attention of Tim Levad, a channel partner advocate for Cisco. To which he responded:
Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.
Ouch! The person who dissed the Cisco offer quickly took their Twitter account private. But Twitter search retained the record.
Remember a couple months ago when the PR guy’s tweet about Memphis came back to bite him? This is another example of the need to be careful with what you post on Twitter, and social media in general.
Measure Twice…Cut Once. No one seems to get it do they?
That is a great analogy. I wish everybody followed that advice!!
TheCommentDepot.com
How many times do you have to tell ppl: Social Media is NOT a back channel!! lol
Thanks for sharing the story.
It’s stunning to think that some of those savvy enough to be using the tools can still not factor in the enormous reach of the message.
Two other posts somewhat along these lines for those interested in the topic…
First – mine (apologies for shameless plug here, Hutch)- I posted some thoughts around the blurring of work / life in the online realm and got some great comments from the community – http://tinyurl.com/cjyhzf
I also came across this post from Lisa Hickey where she provides thoughts on public, semi public and private convos – http://tinyurl.com/clqfgg
Thanks for sharing the story! A good reminder of what NOT to do… EVER.
is that a shoe in @theconnor ’s mouth? looks like he couldn’t get his foot out of his mouth quickly enough.
lmfao yeah looks like a shoe now ya mention it
Wow what a bonehead move. But a great lesson for everyone. There is no place on the interwebs where you can’t be found!
EPIC FAIL!
“NEVER WRITE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET THAT YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO SEE WRITTEN ON YOUR GRAVE”
remember that, and you will never go wrong!
@jez: I suppose you would like to see “epic fail” written on your grave?
Actually, given the kind of circumstances that might lead to needing a gravestone, “epic fail” might be totally appropriate.
YES +1
I wouldn’t mind haveing EPIC FAIL on my grave… I would like that
It would certainly make people far more curious as to how you died.
Would it beat LOL?
written on your grave, or in this case, on your resume.
Written on my grave is not an issue, the dead don’t care. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want your mother to read.
Then we’d have no great literature then if that were the case
Yeehaw! That means I can write anything I want to online given my plans for cremation.
“NEVER WRITE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET THAT YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO SEE WRITTEN ON YOUR GRAVE” – that’s going to be my new email sig.
As a Cisco employee I know we’re doing almost no hiring right now. I sure hope we’re saving our precious few openings for the precious future coworkers who would relish them. As for that lack of Twitter savvy, nothing to add to the bashing that’s begun.
@Jez sed:
“EPIC FAIL!
NEVER WRITE ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET THAT YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO SEE WRITTEN ON YOUR GRAVE”
you want EPIC FAIL! written on your grave? :p couldn’t resist
Good one!
That would rule. As a matter of fact, i’m putting that in my will. My name, the dates and “Epic Fail”
Rather on the tombstone than on my name plate.
Better ‘Epic Fail’ than ‘Oops I guess that light was red’
I want EPIC FAIL on my grave…that’s soo cool..Million dollar idea!
honesty vs. political correctness ..
How is it remotely possible that someone who just spent a million years in college (yes i saw her resume) could accept their first “career” job with a company as large/prestigious as Cisco and then have an attitude like that? I guess that is someone who REALLY LOVES school.
All signs point to the fact that this was a blessing in disguise for the Cisco…from a previous tweet…”theconnor oh no oh no. just realized i can watch netflix on demand AT WORK. stay tuned for when i repeat this revelation in class tomorrow.”
I don’t have anything new to say that hasn’t already been said, but gah. Think, people. Think.
yikes. good lesson.
This is like a new type of Darwinism, the tech version.
This comment made me laugh. This person was ungrateful and needs a career change if her work doesn’t please her. As Jon Stewart would say, “our wealth comes from our work.”
You are so right.
All I have to say is Duh!
Once again public snarkiness gone wild!
what seems like simple sense just tends to fly out the window at times!
I saw that tweet and thought that it was a pretty bone headed move on the part of the person. i guess they did not learn too much in school.
If I could ONLY point out the some of the things I have seen people tweet. I can’t now – but I saved links and I will one day. Seriously think before you Tweet !
There is not a “right way” or a “wrong way” to use Twitter. This girl used Twitter like most people: she said what was on her mind. That her transparent admission of her dislike of work had repercussions should not lead to opacity in her communication.
The problem Jason is that she clearly wasn’t “transparent” in her conversation with Cisco – otherwise they would never have offered her a job. People need to understand that not only are they broadcasting on twitter – potentially to everyone – but that it also is recorded and can later be used against you.
I love my job!
Haha! That’s awesome! I’m in favor of transparency and honest communications. But Mama always said if you can’t say anything nice…
cisco employees are just upset theconner pointed out the reality of working in stale old cisco.
Wow!
Poor bloke! I know millions who think and feel that way on the bus or in a plane, but to tweet is to get caught, I guess.
It is not about what you think, but about who hears your thoughts. It needs serious guts to be honest on the net.
BTW: I love my work, I love the pay, I love it more and more each day…. and so on.
An off topic comment, but not too far off.
So I’m a facebook junky and well twitter is my new high. On facebook, the amount of people complaining about work is almost uncountable. I should say that the number of people on facebook
As with all technologies that connect you to the WWW, you have to monitor what you say, especially if it’s critical. poltical, or planin old complaining.
Some things should be kept to yourself.
I almost did that for a college project & was so close to getting in trouble with the prof. Thats the problem with the social web i guess -you cant just undo your actions !
You can undo your actions on Twitter. Just delete the update.
You can’t undelete a tweet once it’s been copied and archived on a hiring manager’s gray matter database.
I think some are really starting too take it uselessly over board.
http://www.andrewkurka.wordpress.com
Great entry! It’s funny when new tools come to our disposal that it seems to take us time before we use it with caution. I remember hearing similar horror stories when email was introduced. When will we learn? Nice blog. Take care Alan
yes well i hope people learn from this. i heared of a woman writing in her blog what she does all day at work and was fired after that as well.
have to be careful with writing on the internet.. things can backfire.
Yeah, it’s like the web is.. public or something.
Sigh.
I almost did that for a college project & was so close to getting in trouble with the prof. Thats the problem with the social web i guess -you cant just undo your actions
It’s just a bit too easy to forget you’re not just talking to your friends when using social media.
They’ve not quite covered their trail.
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22connor%20riley%22+berkeley
Thats just priceless…
I think a job at Cisco is boring and I would hate it too, but I need to refrain from saying that as I need the fatty paycheck,…….ooops!
.. PWNT.
A Dutch politician got publicly slapped today on the national news, because he privately twitted a racist Twit.. and he apologised on his Tweetfeed
Nice one! Although some sees SOCIAL NETWORKING as a means to express and speak their minds same as what I do, again, caution has to be observed because people aren’t born to think alike! Some may take a post positively while others may take it as a painful and offending. Thus, WITH TWEET POWER COMES TWEET RESPONSIBILITY.
http://ryanericsongcanlas.wordpress.com
Whoa, quite a lesson for all tweeters!
My b rother id something like this, he went on a mini rant about his line manager on facebook. He didnt loose his job but he was going to be demoted… only then they realised they didnt have anyone to replace him on his department. lol! hes still there now but the manager has gone!
Its not about being politically correct, its about realising who MIGHT be reading what you post. everyone has the right to free speech but this guy wouldent have sat in the interview and said that he supposed the money would make up for the fact that he didnt want to be there in the first place.
I dont think anyone can afford to be picky about a job at the moment. I know i cant!! But even if i get the worst job in the world i will be grateful for the income and definatly wouldent complain about it!!
interesting story and funny too, too bad for some people that tweets are being saved in Twitter search after you delete them, also too bad if you by accident post a DM as a regular tweet (like sometimes happens with TwitterFox)
A blessing in disguise: this person just saved himself from a job he hated. Now, he can concentrate on finding what he really wants.
Exactly what I thought! Thank God for accidental honesty! I hate my job too. I pray every day that my boss would fire me!
what a pity!
Actually pity the guy, but he definitely should’ve been careful. Well, he was sure he’d hate the job anyway, so guess it’s alright?
Thanks For Sharing, FromKampanye Damai Pemilu Indonesia 2009
PR guys, who are they?
~Ehtie~
Yeah, let Cisco (or any organization) fire everyone who hates their job. Or, let them only select employees who are willing to lie for money. That should work out okay, right?
Levad’s threat not only displays an incredible naivete about the realities of managing a workforce, but also a top-down smugness typical of plutocratic command economics.
In a free market, Tim, employees are allowed to weigh their options. Economic exchanges between free actors are compromises by necessity: Levad should get over it or do us all a favor and get out of business.
Exactly. The twitterer did herself a double favor by not working at CISCO. No wonder they have to pay a ton of money to new hires. The place must be truly horrific.
Doesn’t it just show the arrogance – and perhaps complacency of Gen Y? Too few people are prepared to take responsibility for their social media presence, and assume they can cruise through life without any negativity sticking to them.
Just in case you hadn’t noticed, the workforce is going to shrink quite a bit and Gen Y is going to be facing enormous demand. You bet they’re going to be able to dictate all the terms of employment.
So, it was a woman then?
That makes sense. Speak first, think later.
Heh!
Wow. That’s horrible. He needs reputation management now, we are great with cleaning up reputations on the web.
Side note:If I where the blog post owner. I’d edit that link because too many people are tweeting ‘cisco fatty’. Instead, I’d link to http://search.twitter.com/search?q=cisco+fatty+theconnor
Well it will make an interesting addition to that persons CV/Resume. Employment History: Cisco 17/03/09 12:00 – 17/03/09 12:01, Skills: ‘I am fully versed in the pitfalls of Social Media’.
May I just take this opportunity to say I love the company I work for
The frustration is, however, that you want to create content that is interesting and generates discussion. Sometimes, it’s obvious not to say anything regarding a topic, but often, you want to post in order to create discussion but not brand you for life. How to balance the two? How to avoid mundane commentary but not to overtly offend?
this story tell me many things, but one in particular. propriety is lacking with some people. these devices enable some people to continue to keep acting like a 2 year old with a secret. they have to blurt it out immediately. guess what? most people do not really care what other people are thinking SECOND to SECOND. put the device down and back away slowly. go see someone face to face every once in a while.
I don’t believe it! Did you create this? http://current.com/items/89891774/supernews_twouble_with_twitters.htm
Of course everybody cares about what everybody is doing!
If Cisco takes the cowardly road and just drops the guy instead of asking themselves hard questions about why someone might not enjoy the work they lose, not him.
Another bad day for Twitter!
We’ll need a term for this kind of thing. We had ‘Dooced’ when people got fired for writing on their blogs at the turn of the century. Twitted, perhaps?
Why do people think they’re invisible on the internet? It’s amazing…
So many folks always want to jump on the newest band wagons. Anything electronic,tweet,facebook,myspace,cell phones etc. They don’t read rules and information,they just want to flap their jaws. If you want something to say personal, get a land-line. You know the phone that is attached to your home. *giggles*
wow, scary stuff.
Maybe I will rave about my job just before salary review and see what happens.
Should I praise my boss and my company everyday on my blog and twitter?
nice post and lesson to learn from. it shows that in this new era of the web (web 2.0) nothing is hidden. Whatever you write online now, is beeing veiwed by the whole 2 billion internet users.
A good one to learn from.
This Tweet caught my attention. It makes me wonder if the original Cisco update is someone’s idea of a joke
godhammer: Nortel just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to Canada & hating the work #ORM
Wow, interesting story and funny too. Thanks For Sharing.
I am sure that guy must be repenting about his tweet now
But its very imperative that one needs to be careful while using social media or the internet. Many times people forget that they are being too personal on the web. Probably, the addictiveness to the internet is the cause for this. I remember that Reuters had stated that 70 percent of Americans turn to the web for news as they believe that traditional journalism is out of touch. And after reading some news or interesting facts, people get drifted and end up in doing something stupid on the web.
This simple visual explains how you can get punished when Social Media goes to the court. Take a look here – http://vizedu.com/2009/02/social-media-goes-to-court/
That’s a self owning if ever I saw one. I don’t use Facebook or Twitter, because I’m not interested in telling everybody everything I’m doing at any given time and I don’t want to know the same about everyone else. Social networking sites are like a window into people’s lives, and sometimes you don’t like what you see in those windows.
Maybe the guy can check out my Making Money Online blog now he is unemployed – http://homesuccesstips.wordpress.com/
Bob Nardelli might be really interested in embarrassing public information on Tim Levad. Is Cisco so out-of-work that they waste time on tattle-tales?
*OWNED*
Well done! Muppet…
Twitter just made this easier, but it simply shows that this person is not professional anyways. If you don’t want the job don’t waste people’s time in interviews. There are more people out there who want it and are enthusiastic.
Wow… that sucks… tsk tsk tsk tsk… that’s why I never tweet publicly when its a negative one… hahahahaha
That’s what you get for using Twitter: http://decentcommunity.org/2009/03/10/twitter-is-too-much/
Always be careful what you put out on the internet, because it’s there forevor.
Good lessons, but shouldn’t Cisco also worry about why the applicant feel that way?
Ouch!
Another reason to use caution when tweeting or posting on any SM platform is that employers are routinely searching the ‘verse on job applicants as part of due diligence. What do you think a potential empoyers reaction is to posts about how drunk/stoned etc you got last night or the current level of your sexual appetite. These searches aren’t technically legal for determining eligibity for a job – HR has a don’t ask-don’t tell philosophy here, and if it’s done behind the scenes the applicant may never know why they weren’t offered a job.
The question is: if he hated the job, why did he take it?
The REALLY big question is: If he’s going to hate that kind of work, why did he spend all that time & money going to college getting a degree in that field?
This is an eye opener abotu what you should and should not tweet about.
You have to wonder what was going through his mind. I mean he had to now that someone would have seen it and that it would get back to his boss.
LOL, Cisco could have had some real fun stringing that one along. Luckily they have integrity and stung the applicant straight up
Awesome that some smarta55 set up this account, http://twitter.com/CiscoFatty to memorialize the event.
Twooce.
Man, was that ever a bone head move. No one realizes the power if Indexing, ha!
Fool. The man is a fool.
Just tweeted this. Didn’t realize it was so popular already. @niceguyted
The real lesson here is not to “be careful with Twitter” but to be careful with what situations you accept. If some jobs would make you super unhappy, then take your life and fix it so you most likely never have to work like that. Everyone who’s advising others to avoid the truth is way off base.
The things that people post are just amazing. If the person is smart enough to want to use Twitter for the benefit, they have to assume that companies are using it for their benefit as well.
Who wants an employee that is going to bash the brand image before filling out tax forms?
What is shocking to me is that people never learn this lesson.
I can tell people first hand employers will look at their MySpace’s and hey, if your MySpace is private, we’ll look at your current status message and your personal quote if thats not private too..
People will say the most insane things and think nobody else would/could be looking for them..
It’s apparent that he wasn’t thrilled about taking the job. He asked, and the universe answered.
Oops…
Another example of nail the interview, fail the job. It’s no surprise that so many applicants are showing up well during the hiring process given all the coaching and advice that is available. But showing up well on the job is a whole different candy bar. “Hate the work” would have failed but would he/she have ever been fired?
That makes you wonder then if there are good people out there who aren’t quite as skilled at interviewing.
opaaaaaaa .. that’s a shame
I’ve never tweeted, so maybe someone can explain it, but how would Tim Levad have even see the tweet? If I update my gmail or facebook status, the only people seeing it are my friends. Even if it’s not private, it’s not going to show up on my boss’s newsfeed (since we’re not friended).
Can you just do a search of all tweets for Cisco or whatever to see who’s tweeting about you?
Yep. Twitter has an excellent search facility. For example, try http://search.twitter.com/search?q=cisco
Or http://search.twitter.com/search?q=cisco+fatty
that is all to hilarious… how does anyone not know that once you say something, it is forever out there on the web, there is NO delete or erase function on the web, nice
I don’t the fault in this is with Twitter or social media in general. If the person was so obvious with their dislike for the job as to state it in such a public forum it probably would have come out in another forum anyway. I’ve sat at my work and listened to co-workers take phone interviews for other jobs on the company’s recorded line…doi!
Here’s a flip side to that. If all these managers Tweet, how about posting your availability, skill set, location, etc.
I have done contract work for too long (no perks, no bennies), and would now like to find a FT perm position, but so are a boatload of other folks.
Comments, suggestions, warnings ??
Common sense people! I’m starting to think there needs to be a mandatory “how not to use social media” seminar.
Heck, make that “how to not use the internet.” Duh.
All these people chiding Cisco for not embracing transparency or railing against the tyranny of political correctness are missing the point.
She’s welcome to dread work as much as the next person. But when she publicly insults her (would-be) employer, she’s showing really bad judgment.
As a manager, I don’t want someone working for me who doesn’t have the good sense to know when to use discretion. As an employer, how can I trust she won’t tank a multi-million dollar deal with that big mouth of hers?
The job offer shouldn’t be rescinded because she was being too honest; it should be rescinded because she proved she’s too immature for the job.
Impulse control – it does your career prospects good.
Entertaining post. Thanks.
Good lesson learned. People don’t realize how powerful messaging via the web can be!
That was rather dumb and rash of him. Bet he’s kicking himself. I’m sure he lost the job mostly because he showed how naive he is but also beause he underestimated the company – everyone is keyed to the web these days even the bosses.
What’s up with thouse peoples common sense?
it’s so funny that i stumbled upon this just now. in a mtg that we just had we were warned to be more careful with the content of our status’ on social networking sites.
great post and everyone beware! just because we do have the first amendment, it’s not as protected as we thought!
“Same player try again!”
Honestly she must have been a newbie to Twitter. A more explicit disclaimer should tell the new users teh difference between public updates and private’s.
twitter.com/novoseek
Ouch! That sucks! But really that guy is an idiot.
And Cisco’s on Facebook too (and using it it for recruiting). People should be careful what they post.
Everyone is so uptight. The better question is why do you hate the work? Lots of people hate their jobs.
true.
agreed.
and why not decide that it wouldn’t be a good fit and move on, you know?
but it’s a converation we should be having, indeed.
You would be amazed at how many clients we get that want us to “hit the back button” for them. It’s nothing new from bad press to posted blogs. There are ways of doing it but with Twitter it’s more complicated.
I do have one comment about the post. I may sound like a salty ol woman but, **getting on podium** in today’s society where jobs are scarce and employment on the Internet is a do or die experience, why can’t people appreciate the simple things? I mean this kid gets a job with a huge company and he freaking complains. Hello… Do you know how many people would love to get a job PERIOD?
Look I know It’s not easy working for yourself. It takes discipline, time, and a strategy. Everyone wants to see the fruits of their labor, well then learn how to promote yourself with a clean, forward thinking brand. **getting off my podium**
This is why I tweet under an alias. I don’t want a future employer to profile me based on my twitter history.
Seriously? I think some people think Twitter is like being in a car – you can say/do what you want and you think nobody will notice.. =)
Ha Ha, great story about maybe not letting all you thoughts be public on social networks !
oh..no…
OUCH! Big mistake made there!
Wow, Big Brother is watching.
Reminds me of the slacking employee who bragged about it on Facebook after calling in sick.
The internet: You’re not allowed to express your true feelings because it might upset somebody.
uh oh!
wow thanks for bringing that to my attention.
i write on my twitter about how many hours i have left until i get to go home. don’t get me wrong, i love my job, but damn. hmm, can you seriously get fired for even writing ~that~?
This is not the first embarrassing- private-admission-gone-public story I have read as a result of social media, nor will it be the last. I just hope I don’t have to read one about myself.
Peter R
Some people are just naive. Simple as that. If it’s in the public domain, it’s in the public domain. Slag people off and they will see it. Mind you, works for me.
I’ve heard about this type of thing happening on sites like Facebook and stuff. People need to be more grateful for the chances they are giving, even if they hate the work. Nice post.
Geez, it was just a casual remark, maybe the person that twitted that just has pre-job jitters.
Obviously the hiring manager things she will be a good addition there. Since when do you have to love or even like your job?
I hate my night job with the intensity of a thousand suns, but I am more productive than most people there.
It is a good reminder. That on any social network we should watch what we put out their. No one know who could be reading and looking at what you put up. Losing that Cisco job is the most painful thing that could happen at this time.
Great post! Thanks for that. It is a great reminder!
When I read “Cisco fatty” it makes me think of Crisco. Who apparently were not involved in any way.
On the bright side, his weighty decision is resolved!
“timmy” looks like a bit of a psycho – I’m sure I’ve seen that picture on America’s most wanted.
It’s best to have 2 online personalities, your real self where you tell the world how great the company you work for is and wish you could just work even harder than you already do cos you love them so much…
The other is anonymous and you use it to tell the truth.
I don’t work for Cisco but I do hate my job, if I ever do work for Cisco I’ll probably hate that one too.
Where does it say that he or she lost the job offer? The way I read it, somebody claiming to work at Cisco wanted to know who the jhiring manager was, and that was the end of it.
Incredible. When will people learn? I am simultaneously laughing and shaking my head. Sounds like CISCO may have caught a break finding out what kind of guy @theconnor is before he started working for them.
Expensive lesson for @theconnor though. And he should have known better.
Wow! Some people never know when to draw the line between their personal and ’social’ life!
That is great!
what a dum*ss!
serves him right for sharing too much on them intertubes
Just remember that Twitter is a “pulpit” for you to speak to the world and have it recorded. The world includes your job and future jobs.
If you don’t have multiple, disjoint, disconnected personae on the web, you’re asking for exactly that sort of trouble.
With every new social networking site, it seems like people forget their own net-etiquette. Happened with myspace to facebook, now twitter. Pretty sure this will never end.
Those who don’t learn from history…
I re-posted this with back links quoting the source.
The blog: http://humor.talentspring.com/
My blog is humor for recruiters, who work in the staffing departments of companies. They will love this!!!
-Bryan
Bryan Starbuck
CEO, TalentSpring, Inc.
Mad. I mean – you wouldn’t scream from the roof of your house, via megaphone, that your neighbours smell – yet – digitize everything.. and people go nuts!
Wow. I feel bad for that guy. I guess I’m going to need to censor my tweets from now on.
This guy deserved NOT to get a job based on his stupidity. Did anyone read the story about how the Ketchum PR rep badmouthed the Fed Ex employees in Memphis? He got his butt handed to him. I’m a PR/marketing consultant and copywriter, and I just shake my head when I read stories. It’s called “social networking” for a reason.
Thi guy caused himself a huge rash of bad publicity. Good luck – who wants to hire this guy now? Yikes!
Straight PWNAGE!!! What an idiot. Why would you ever say that, even if it was in an email?
People need to realize that the internet is forever! Dummies.
Humm, I find this actually rather amusing. I don’t feel great about the person possibly losing their job, but why would you say something so private on a public space? This is sort of like all of the college students I go to classes with fiddling around on Facebook and Twitter during class, and then crying over bad test scores. Twitter and other social media sites have their place, but get a grip on when to use them!
Amen. Some people will never understand the power of the internet.
Wow. Hilarious as long as it’s not me.
I think people sometimes misappropriate the freedom of the internet with the semblance of its anonymity. Even without social media, I think the logical/illogical ( depends on who you ask ) decision of combining the internet with freedom and casualness is something that has been a no-no for a long time.
I can bring back a story to my high school days when a group of upperclassmen developed a site that everyone just talked a load of crap. People were called ugly, private lives were brought into public domain, and users could post as anonymous. The site was shut down, but the repercussions were clear as two friends got into a fight over words said on the site, as well as another girl being outed as a lesbian.
This isn’t a digression, but more of demonstrating that from the very beginning of most people introduced to the internet, there is a feeling of being able to rant without having to show one’s badge.
Yes, many people can be anonymous. But as people utilize more applications, with careless movement, they are likely to end up in these situations.
Think of how many Facebook pictures of drinking and durgs prohibits certain individuals from becoming politicians, or joining huge companies? How many public Tweets can hurt someone’s image ( even if it is based on intellectual, even honest viewpoints )?
In a good way, I like the fact that people commit more of their personal life on the internet. It, at the end of the day, creates some kind of community. People in general should be more careful of what they say at all times regardless, but the lack of self-censorship does indirectly demonstrates a liberal community, as twisted as that may be.
What I think is even more amusing is the people who are defending @theconnor’s lack of common sense as being Cisco’s fault. That since she posted that tweet that Cisco should have thanked her for bringing this up and rewarded her for her candor.
Give me a break! Most people are trying whatever they can to get a job and this person is whining about getting a job with a technology giant and a big paycheck? She needs to be smacked!
And for those of you who agree with her: Grow up! There is no such thing as a truly anonymous venue, if you want to complain about something go and talk to your friends in person over dinner or over the phone. Not over a SOCIAL medium designed to show what you post to the world. If you do then take responsibility for your posts and don’t complain when someone smacks your hand.
Lessons Learned: Never say bad things about employers. In stead Love them, say you love to work for them. Keep this postive habit anywhere anytime, on twitter, outside twitter, and life is so much easier and relaxed….
i’ve said lotsa things like that
in a joking manner, so if i was
this person, i would have just
responded to levad’s reply with
a tweet that reinforced the funny.
does cisco have a sense of humor?
-bowerbird
LMAO! These days, the lines are way too blurred.
I continue to be amazed at the lack of social media etiquette, good graces and common sense. I see former employees publicly burning bridges and vendors openly attacking one another in a childish manner all the time.
Ha, there isn’t one company in corporate America and beyond that seems to think Twitter is something the cool kids do, it’s something about that brand awareness check that leads to inexplicably revealing results in the blogosphere and “tweetosphere”, and really puts consumers opinions into greater perspective! Epic fail on behalf of the Twitter user making the mistake!
“Common sense” isn’t!
Good stuff, thanks for posting. I like the wittiness of the response too!
That is nice!
By most people’s standards I am an old fart but I have to say, I wrote some really stupid crap when growing up and I’m glad I didn’t have the internet back then so that my utter drivel and idiotic mistakes didn’t end up on-line like this guy’s.
What a dork! If you are going to blab about your personal and professional life, you should be anonymous. Didn’t Dooce already warn everyone about blogging about your job?
I too am glad the internet wasn’t around when I was younger, if it had been, Lord help us!! LOL. Great blog – thanks.
So this means Cisco have a division or some guys just to monitor voices from the Internet?
Just another example of someone tweeting way TMI. No, not everyone wants to read every thought that comes in your mind, or hear about every time you drink a cup of coffee or your cat does something “cute.”
We were just discussing this today in a marketing roundtable-there is a very good reason not to drink and blog, tweet, post on a wall, etc. The best thing about our transparent world is that we have to discover our core values and declare how we want to present ourselves to the world.
Cisco is probably better off not having a user in their employ when there are so many great people who would relish the opportunity to work.
The concept of having your thoughts posted to the world should give everyone reason to stop and think “why do I have two ears and one mouth?”
I’m such an “epic fail” at twitter that I probably *COULD* tweet something like that and get away with it. If a tweet happens and no one sees it, was it really a tweet?
HAHA. The interwebz is a public place, ladies and gentlemen. (:
This is EXACTLY what I just blogged about, except he is burning bridges before they are even built! (http://www.nathanlatka.wordpress.com/)
This proves that the world is indeed small. We need to keep in mind that what we do or say in public (in twitter for example) may prove costly
It just goes to show you can’t be too careful!
It is NOT being too careful to not say stupid crap on the web if you dont want to!
How many people love to work? Just suck it up, she said “hating the work.”
Big deal Cisco, maybe you should take that as an initiative to make the work environment more enjoyable. Hell why not supply a cable TV, a lap top with internet access, and some free KFC to your employees…oh wait… then it might not be work.
You’re paying your employees because work isn’t fun and they have to have a reason to do it. If money grew on trees, would anyone like having a job at Cisco?
Damn.
At least their employee selection process failed to screen out someone who was quite unmotivated to work at the company.
Hahaha, good point.
thanks for sharing, Keep it up frend
Check out this opinion, and what the writer uncovered. http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41777/114/
I think it is important to note that the actions of people on the web were pretty horrible, and borderlined on harassment. Additionally, not many people are addressing the unprofessional manner in which the Cisco employee conducted himself.
True, and in a very legal sense, in this particular case, the Cisco “back channel” employee was wrong and illegally interfered with standard hiring practices and US labor law. That is a federal crime.
Ouch! Like all social media sites, we must be careful in posting pictures and information! We must remember that all this information is open for everyone to see and there are no take-backs! lol
Excellent post!! Twitter is like a breath of fresh air on the Social Media scene. I have been on it for just a few weeks now and I have met several interesting people. It is a platform to network with people you would like to meet in real life. Check me out!!
http://twitter.com/spryka
How are we to believe that Khurram is also spryka ?
The Socrates Triple Filter Test
In ancient Greece , Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?“
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called
the Triple Filter Test.“
“Triple filter?“
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a
moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test.“
“The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?“
“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…“
‘All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter
of GOODNESS. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?“
“No, on the contrary…“
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You
may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of USEFULNESS. Is what you want to
tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?“
“No, not really.“
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to
me at all?“
Are you also saying that Twitter tweets can be hacked ?
(therefor become not true)
that would kill all the gossip in the world.
very good
A fine example of Natural Selection.
Cork
Reminds me of the struck-by-vehicle-while-crossing-the-street- AND-texting/cellphoning issue – this is patently sad. Pedestrians have the right-of-way in ANY situation, unless they are Jay-walking (ALL Jay-walkers need to be ticketed, and if also texting/phoning, then THAT is natural selection; since they are walking like an odd bird and animals cant text nor phone)
Priceless – but it must happen a lot
Wow, that’s kinda crazy. Gotta be real careful what one says on the Interwebz. Big Brother is always watching…
This is a perfect example of why you should never complain!
With twitter let this be a lesson to all that your projection in life should always be positive.
http://www.erinkhoo.com
Omg…I just joined Twitter 3 days ago and probably 90% of my tweets are about how much I hate my job. I’m going to erase them now.
However, to be honest, I hate the fact that one cannot ever fully be self-expressive because people are always taking offense to everything. Maybe posting how I have zero work to do is not the smartest thing to do, but it should still be allowed.
How moronic? What goes through their mind thinking that a company like Cisco won’t be monitoring the web?
Thanks for the examples of What Not To Say. It seems as if technology brings out the Tourette in people. On a tweet or a blog the conversations are not private. Maybe one guide should be, “How hard will this bite me in the a@@?”
What an idiot.
The twitterer’s problem wasn’t being too honest; it was being too SEARCHABLE. Substitute *** for “Cisco” and nobody would have noticed the tweet.
its not just twitter dude, even our blogs are usually monitored…..a friend of mine had an issue when some HR from Oracle read his ideas on his blog, referred to the recruitment head and this fellow was scheduled for an interview, too bad he was sharing the ideas of the firm he was working for…….
I’m not surprised at all. A lawyer once told me (referring to e-mails), “Only put in writing what you’d be willing to have read back to you in a court of law.” Good advice for any form of communicating, including social networks.
Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer
http://www.randolphmase.com
http://twitter.com/randolphmase
My Novels:
Death on Broadway
Death Beneath the Streets
Death in Central Park
Death in The Cloisters (under construction)
Nathan Hale
Ones lack of wisdom will always lead to his/her downfall. There is an old saying that goes like this “look before you leap”. it simply means one should think on our actions, speech and thought before they are executed, in whatever shape or form.
But is it true? I checked the twitter page of the guy from Cisco and do not see the tweet in question
Thanks for the heads up Don. Yup, the whole thing is true – I blogged as a first-hand witness. My guess is Tim didn’t want any more publicity on this.
It astonishes me that some twitterer’s are so flippant at naming companies and individuals
I am annoyed that some NOSEY ASS person would have the balls to actually use the old “tattle tell” remark. What a douche!
A more constructive thing to say would have been. “Hey man…be careful what you say. Anyone could be reading these…including your new HR manager!”
C’est la vie!
When are people going to realize that this information is “public”? I had a friend recently post on facebook “Glenda asked to be my friend. We haven’t been friends up to this point. Why start now?” She didn’t realize everyone could read what she had posted. People really need to be aware of what they are posting and who is able to read it.
Wow this is very interesting!! Yea i agree those kinds of things should be left private.
Certianly a lesson to be learnt ! Oh dear !
yikes
much like the old saying goes that ‘if it’s not documented it didn’t happen’ but in reverse; if it is documented, then it’s assumed it DID happen. Do not put anything in writing anywhere on the net (Twitter, Facebook, My Space, Blogs, websites, anywhere!) that has the potential of coming back to bite you later.
Fifteen or so years in, I’m sure we’ve all done something just like this at one time or another…
Epic Fail. lol
That’s ridiculous, but it made me laugh. Social media is a great tool, but there are far too many people who aren’t using it properly. I believe it is the new way for people to air their dirty laundry. People used to just tell you too much too fast, now they share their TMI with the world. Hooray!
ohhh
WOW! The thing is, it’s not about the technology; it’s about common sense. Don’t say things in public that you would not want to be heard by the whole world.
Don’t ever talk about an employer on Twitter
I liked this post. It hones in on the way people are dependent on networks like Twitter. I had a twitter account but almost lost it after three months. I asked myself what the point was of reading about micro moments in a stranger’s life.
A very painful way to learn your lesson well.
But then, thanks for being the guinea pig. Now, all people like me who read this will not be terminated just before we start on a new job.
Exactly why my Twitter feed isn’t open to everyone — and I don’t automatically add people.
Hmmmmmm . . . you think if someone was to tweet that he desperately longed to work for Cisco that it might work in reverse?
Don’t tell or bring anything about Twitter. Besides it’s none of the employers business to know what I’m up to. They shouldn’t be nosy.
I’m not that interesting but boring.
It’s always interesting to me that the one thing people DONT want anyone to find is the first thing that pops up … but when you WANT something to be noticed on the internet, it gets buried…
*sigh*
With so many folk so terrified of Big Brother watching them they seem to fail to realize that with Social Media everyone who wants to can watch them.
Great post!
made me think,thats takes doing,great post
people shouldn’t be so foolish. it’s laughable.
That is a prime example of idiocy and tom-foolery at its best. Internal monologues should never come out as tweets!…or facebook statuses…
He wasn’t right for the job anyway.
It’s frightening how stupid these comments are. Not one original thought. Good thing you all have jobs.
Like being in a public place and thinking only the person you’re talking to will hear you; or picking your nose in traffic and assuming no one will see…. We can all hear you, and we can all see you.
That guy was just an idiot. Any job in this economy is a blessing. If he didn’t want it then he should have never set up an interview.
I really love that Tim Levad is too retarded to end a question with a question mark.
I know a ton of folks in Michigan who’d love that job.
The potential for professionals to make asses of themselves with new technology just increases everyday.
Cheers
The Closer
http://iloveclosing.com/2009/03/21/personal-hygiene-for-the-modern-sales-professional/
Social media is an integral part of our profile – resistance is futile
This one is getting a lot of attention! Which is good, because the lesson is important.
But I’m susprised that some people are blasting Tim Levad for his sound, cautionary response– some going so far as to say he is being intimidating. Geez. Sounds like paranoia…
But the fact remains that CISCO does suck…
Ties in with a previous posting of mine, before I’d ramped up my twittering (or it had gone mainstream) and so was focused on blogging. Its comments, however, are probably just as valid.
http://euphemize.net/blog/archives/2007/10/29/professional-plus-blogger-equals-self-censorship/
we dont see a problem here, and we dont use ANY blog, twitter, site nor fourm against nor in research of an employee for hiring purposes. The Supreme Court may deem that illegal – it isn’t currently illegal, but may be someday, so we dont use it in practice. Also, it takes twitter search to “lose” a deleted message about 72 hours once deleted. But, search WILL lose it eventually – that is a fact.
Also, Social Media is social (media is secondary, merely the delivery method of the socialisms), therefore no different than what we might overhear in a bar or at a company picnic or in the lunch room – are those things said in those contexts used against employees or employers? Yes, they can be, so perhaps we should all treat twitter (non-private) as if it were a bookstore or bar or lunchroom or water cooler.
Back to the public vs. private issue of twitter, I DO believe that twitter search should only be available to interactions between what a user tweets, DMs, DMs in response, and tweetsback/hashtags (when a username becomes a hashtag) – In other words, unless we OPT IN, our public tweets should not be searchable to anyone but ourselves; and a delete should be immediate (no excuse for that 72 hour wait IMEO)
Hey nice read some definetely good info here. Rep given
I’m pretty sure the guy/girl that posted the tweet wasn’t very tech saavy… haha
Hey, I need a job- I will gladly work at Cisco. Where do I sign? I have been out of work 7 months and I would be grateful for a job.
People who make errors like she did may be the same ones with the talking problem in life- If you don’t want everybody to know it, keep it between you and your cat, dog or sister. Lessons learned.
Thx, nice post:)
What if someone wants to ruin your career? What if they pose online as you and start saying things in your name?
That is a scary thought, but it is possible.
I think the employer in the story may have over-reacted..
They hired the person, because of a skill match and some body else overheard the guy say that he hates the work (which btw, many, many people do!) and the hiring manager was / or was not influenced by this ‘overhearer’.
If all work was fun, people would pay to do it. It is because most wor is difficult or stressful, frequently monotonous, that people are paid to work, and management keeps coming up with plans to motivate them.
I’m more tired with people like the Cisco employee with too much time on their hands.
I love these company “snitches”. I love seeing the look on their face the moment their beloved company turns on THEM and kicks them out the door.
Long live free expression and the freedom to be as stupid as you want!
Rather than make unnecessary posts on social networks such as blogs and twitter, post some of your achievements and success. Make it as your ally and not your enemy which will surely backfire you along the way.
Well, we’ve learned a very valuable lesson haven’t we? That’s why I keep my Tweets related to nothing that can be used against me in any way.
Though a boneheaded move, I think there is a deeper message here.
A company that has future employees talking about how much they will hate working there has serious issues. How did this person get such a bad impression of the company? She didn’t just come up with the opinion out of thin air.
Obviously the “fatty paycheck” is to compensate for a poor work environment. Instead of issuing fatty paychecks, perhaps those extra costs should be rolled into projects that will make employees more satisfied to work there.
You can always buy talent, but to keep them motivated you need to make them happy to work there.
that true!
people must be careful in the things they say about their job or their boss in websites or social profiles.
So did Cisco learn its lesson from this and make the work less hateful?
@Twitterer.
That’s the best one yet!
I wish I could tweet my way out of a job. At least then I could get unemployment and get away from my horrible boss at the Home Depot [redacted by blog author].
Stuck Home Depot Associate
Had to redact the Home Depot employee’s name – don’t need to settle scores here in the comments.
Thanks.. nice post
Lol sharing is a blessing and a curse.
Well, that was dumb of her. Thanks for the post.
Cool Great!
Thx, nice post
truth is never wrong
but there is a relative way to put things for the respective audience….the entire blue planet is not the place to talk in an untruthful way, but maybe be more polite in your semantic rhetoric…..and watch that syntax!
No….I don’t practice that. lol .
geek on that, bebe
Wow that is pretty crazy, I guess people just figure the internet is so spread out that people wont notice. But we should all remember that there are applications constantly skimming for content and displaying it on other websites based off of specific keywords like “cisco” obviously a company like that keeps manages their public identity and tracks it. I wonder though if they figured out who the applicant was and were able to revoke their offer, I would think that to be unlikely seeing as they would not have access to the actual identity of the person unless their real name was attached to the account which is not very common.