Hmmmm
I applied for a job at the University of Blah a while ago. Having worked there between 2003 and 2006, I know the people there well.

Anyway: I know that they were shortlisting last week. Today, I got a Facebook friend request from the head of the department there. Does this mean that I'm on the shortlist as some sort of preferred candidate, and the letter's in the post, or does it mean that I'm not going to be called for interview so there'll be no accusations of nepotism if I'm an FB friend?

*worries*
( Enzyme is in ur [noun]z, [verb]in' ur [noun]z, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:41, Reply)

Take off anything inflammatory from your FB
and add him. Then grill him as to when you'll be starting your new job as you're obviously BFF's now.
( Mary's sexbox explosion makes me The Jesus, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:42, Reply)

It means
they want to look through your photos, see how wasted you get at the weekend...

/paranoia
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:43, Reply)

They probably also
want to see 'How many five year olds you could take in a fight' and "How long could you survive chained to a bed with a Raptor?"

Background checks like this are very useful for weeding out dangerous candidates. For instance, I could take 35 5 year olds, apparently: no Uni job for me.
(MrOli is ugly, but in the morning you will be sober, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:49, Reply)

Oli's probably right
Can you still limit people to seeing just your 'Limited Profile'? I used to only add work colleagues with this limitation... not that I put anything particularly problematic online anyway.
( Papa Noel is looking forward to filling your stockings, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:50, Reply)

Bit unproffessional from the Head innit??
Show him your goatse impression pics :D
(The Dirty Christmas Treeker I will bite your face off, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:50, Reply)

I'm not at all worried about him seeing my profile...
There's nothing on there that people who've met me wouldn't get. I'm just curious about the social psychology of the thing...
( Enzyme is in ur [noun]z, [verb]in' ur [noun]z, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 10:56, Reply)

He might want to hit you with a pillow
Then expect you to do it back, and get fucking arsey with you if you don't. Then delete you from his friends.
(Dangerous Disco Trev Isn't my real name, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 11:13, Reply)

They abuse facebook for definite
My flatmate works for an "educational establishment" (hospitality - basically it's for rich dumb kids). And they use software to mine the facebook pages of their students and prospective students.

I'd not add him.

And I'd also ensure there's nothing iffy on there either.
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 12:11, Reply)

Many of my students are on a distance learning programme.
That means they might never meet me. I've vetoed all friend requests from them. But since my lecture-room persona is no different from my online one, I don't see the problem in having people whom I see in class or colleagues as friends.

Like I said - it's just the timing of this that I'm trying to decode...
( Enzyme is in ur [noun]z, [verb]in' ur [noun]z, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 12:16, Reply)

It's well documented
that companies etc now use things like FB to check you out before hiring. He's just not being very subtle about it, which makes him a dunce.

I say ignore it, and if he asks you why you didn't accept, tell him you didn't see it cos you don't use "that bloody thing, you got it cos of peer pressure". Job done.
(The Apeface Cherub is not a cunty-uber-cunt, Thu 16 Apr 2009, 12:40, Reply)