things I don’t want to know about you

by Alison Green on July 2, 2009

I’m cool with you blogging about chronic masturbation if that’s what you want to do, but then probably you shouldn’t include a link to your blog in your job application materials. I wasn’t really prepared for that.

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{ 27 comments }

{ 27 comments… read them below }

  1. Prius Dei Servus*

    But if they had not put this blog on their resume but you had found it by googling their name, would you hold it against them?

      1. Anonymous*

        No, we just do not want to lead to situations where you write about your fantasy about the coworker that you use when you masturbate – and then send her the link as a means to woo her.

  2. U*

    Great question Prius. A big reason I haven't started my blog is because I don't want to overly censor myself right out the gate.

    That being said, chronic masturbating? OVERshare!

  3. Rampancy*

    Prius it's a bit unrealistic to not have it hold against you don't you think?

    AAM for the record did this person wrote that he is a "chronic masturbater" or did you conclude that after reading his blog?

  5. Rachel - I Hate HR*

    Wow. I think this is going to be one of your most memorable candidates.

  6. Deirdre HR Maven*

    Wow, that Founder's Pale Ale almost came out the nose. This is one for the books.

  9. Prius Dei Servus*

    Rampancy:
    I agree, but I guess the issue is that some employers who googled someone and found their blog dedicated to, say: Halo fandom, might have a similar reaction.
    It seems to me that, so long as a person doesn't put it on their resume (stupid), there should be an element of "Oh, so that's what they do in their freetime!" when any search of this kind is performed.
    And I was just wondering what the Ask-a-manager thought.

  11. Corporate Daycare*

    Would I hold it against them?

    I'm not sure, but I would certainly think twice about shaking their hand at the interview.

  14. Ask a Manager*

    I think if I had just found it by googling him, it would depend on how it was executed. Is it funny or smart, or is it immature or creepy?

    With this guy, it was what it said about his judgment that he'd include a link to it right under the signature on his cover letter. Presumably that link is there because he wants you to click on it, and then when you do, it's basically the equivalent of including an essay on masturbation as his writing sample.

    But if it hadn't happened that way, if instead I'd found it on my own? Much less of a big deal. And then the question would go back to how it was executed. But that's just me; I wouldn't be surprised if some people would disqualify him no matter how good the execution, even if he were Philip Roth writing Portnoy's Complaint.

  16. Charles*

    I am very libertarian. However, in this case call me an old-fashioned prude as I see this as a form of exhibitionism; especially since he expected AAM or anyone reviewing his resume to see/read about it. He cannot have honestly thought that it was "okay."

    Even if he did not include a link on his resume and I only did a search on his name (depending as AAM says on how it is executed,"Is it funny or smart, or is it immature or creepy?") I might still consider it to be a form of exhibitionism and someone that I would not expect to be hired in a professional environment.

    As an employee I would be bothered by a co-worker who put this kind of info on line associated with his name. And I would be even more bothered if management knew about it before they hired him!

    How "innocent" will management claim to be when (not if) he exposes himself to someone in the workplace?

    Maybe my comment is overkill; especially since I am jumping to a conclusion without all the facts (i.e.,"Is it funny or smart, or is it immature or creepy?"). But people have been rejected as job candidates for a lot less.

  17. Rampancy*

    @Prius, I got a very common fist and lastname. If you google on it you'll find lots and lots of results about other people with the same name. As for my blog you can't find my real name on it. Also I am blogging in a language which isn't the main language in the country I live in plus people don't expect me to be a gamer. There are few people who know me irl who know I have this blog, the hardly read it. For me it is very easy to deny that the blog is mine :)

  18. George Guajardo*

    Haha! I love it. The real question has to be whether or not this person got an interview =)

    Seriously, though. It's ok to mention your blog, if the content in it is appropriate for the profession. In a situation like this, it might be a good idea to have both a professional and a personal blog… and link accordingly.

  21. Julie O.*

    I would have rejected this person on the grounds of poor word choice, alone. "Chronic" makes it sound like there's some pathology involved. Like it's a sickness, not just a favorite pastime. "Unapologetic" or "inveterate" or maybe "card-carrying" would have been more appropriate if you ask me.

  22. Anonymous*

    Whatever you do…if you call the guy in for a job interview make sure you DON'T SHAKE HIS HANDS AND BE SURE TO USE HAND SANITIZER ON ALL OF THE DOOR KNOBS AND OTHER THINGS HE TOUCHES WHEN HE LEAVES…what an idiot. You have got to be kidding me. Is this for real?

  23. Jorge*

    I agree that that sort of info is not something I would be putting on my CV – unless I was applying for a job as a sex worker or some other related profession.

    Nevertheless, I find that the comments posted here tell more about the people responding than they do about the candidate with the poor choice of information.

    After all, masturbation is a natural part of life and everyone with fully functioning limbs has done it.

    Perhaps it helps that I was not entirely raised in the US, so my attitude towards the human body and its biology does not freak me out as much.

    1. Anonymous*

      I live and work in Europe, but erotic or physical exhibitionism has no place in the workplace unless you work in a Burlesque club.

      And no, you are really not all that unique or smart, I can find 5 other people who will do the job equally well, and fit in better to the work place.

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