As most of my readers know, Mali is not my real name. When I began blogging, I found that most of the blogs I was reading, and the bloggers who were reading me, used a pseudonym. I felt that I was in good company. There is a certain protection to anonymity that enables you to be honest – sometimes to a fault, perhaps, but usually I find this honesty has worked well for me. (Honesty about me, that is, my flaws and issues, rather than honesty about others.)
Now though, I’m much more open about this blog. I publicise posts on Facebook, and know that many of my family and friends read it. A friend jokes that she doesn’t need to call or text to find out what I’ve been up to, she just checks the blog.
But I feel constrained here too, for precisely that reason. I’m job-hunting. I have been looking for work – directorships, contracting, consulting or full-time – since we returned from our overseas self-described sabbatical (though I did take about six months out earlier this year). It isn’t easy looking for jobs at my age. Assumptions are made, especially (don’t ask me why) about women my age, despite the fact that any organisation would be lucky to have me. Assumptions too, are made about people who have had time out, as my husband and I have had. Yet as a result of that and some other changes in my life, I feel refreshed, healthier, and more capable than I have for a number of years. I figure I have at least another 10-15 years (economy-dependent) of working left in me, so commitment isn’t an issue. Assumptions are also made about people who haven’t worked full-time, people who have dabbled in a number of areas, as I have. Over the last twelve years I’ve been a consultant, a trainer, a writer, a company director and the Chair of a Board, and a volunteer. All of these activities have given me valuable experience that mean I am more capable and valuable than I was when I was working full-time. Yet recruiters or potential employers may look at this with suspicion. I wonder about their lack of imagination, their own limited life experiences, that prevent them from seeing this. What is it about being older, more experienced and responsible and skilful, that is so negative to recruiters, so threatening to future employers?
I know that recruiters now may well look on-line for information on job candidates. Other than international travels, I don’t think I live a very exciting life. No-one is going to find any salacious photographs of me on-line, or get access to my FB pages (where sadly there are still no salacious photographs of me) to see how inappropriate I can be. But if they are determined, they may be able to find their way here, where I share opinions on a number of subjects. And another site where I am (or want to be) even more honest. Knowing this, I’m quite careful about what I say. Maybe that shows discretion. Maybe it shows that there’s really nothing that controversial about me. Or maybe it means I can’t show you the real Mali (though you get about 90% of her).
So should I be so careful?
Yes, and no. I think a good rule for hitting publish should be whether you would want the post associated with your name. If the answer is no because it could cause someone (including yourself) embarrassment or pain, then the act of writing and leaving in draft will have to be good enough. Unless the writer believes their need to publish trumps the feelings of the other person. Sometimes that is the case. But at all other times, I would never publish something I’m not okay having the world know I said. The world needs a little more circumspection and fewer hurt feelings.
That said, would you want to work for an employer who wouldn’t allow you to write about your travels? Or other, pretty innocuous areas of your life? You don’t lead a very controversial existance (at least, not that you’ve published thus far).
I think people abuse anonymity. It is there to protect, not to shield. There are too many blogs out there where people throw horrible words/ideas around and think that they can do it safely because they’re behind an anonymity fort.
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“(where sadly there are still no salacious photographs of me)” is wonderful.
These are very good questions. I still choose to post anonymously, although I barely post at all. I want there to be a place where I don’t have to be constantly professional.
When I get friend requests from people I work with on Facebook, I warn them that I do NOT use it as a professional site and that occasionally I might post something that will offend them. I let them decide if they still want to be friends. That said, I don’t think that what I post is all that bad. And if I truly believe it’s something that could endanger my work life, I stay away from it.
The best part of this post for me, though, is your thoughts on the job process at this age. I’m struggling a lot with this on a freelance basis. I don’t have near the self-confidence that you do, and I admire you very much for it. It’s helpful for me to read your very good points about everything. And I wish you all the luck in the world in finding the next thing.
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I recently was outed. I have always blogged as myself, and then went back and changed some things (my kids names, mostly). But I linked my twitter account to my blog at some point…and then linked to my vice principal’s twitter account! Oops. But it was ok. Because there’s nothing there that can’t be seen. Still a mortifying moment.
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As usual, you’ve put your finger on a number of issues. Mine have nothing to do with work, thank goodness, but with how to write interestingly (meaning specifically, ironically, etc.) about the people in my life, who, unfortunately, are the very ones who are likely to read my blog. If I didn’t have my dogs, I’d have to stop writing altogether. I hope you find an enlightened employer!
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What is it about being older, more experienced and responsible and skilful, that is so negative to recruiters, so threatening to future employers?</i?
Good question; I would think all the qualities you mention would make you more attractive to employers… but maybe it takes a certain kind of organization to value those things. Probably one of those creative, trusting, non-traditional ones that gives employees heaps of autonomy, including unlimited vacation and sick days (and probably doesn't care how many salacious photos of the person are posted online). I hope you find work with one of those, Mali.
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Oops, forgive my poor html skills.
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While I have an online pseudonym, I don’t use it on my regular blog. I’m pretty careful about what I say and have so few readers that I don’t think it much matters.
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Good questions. I blog under a pseudonym, but it’s a derivative of my real name, and I was “outed” on Facebook a couple of years ago by a cousin who stumbled onto my blog through a weird set of coincidences & the magic of Google. :p I took my blog offline for a while until thing died down, and have just crossed my fingers since then that people have forgotten or lost interest, and that nothing similar happens.
My career counsellor actually asked me about blogging (as in “have you done any blogging?”). I’m a lousy liar 😉 so I said I had done “a little, mostly personal stuff” & left it at that. Fortunately, he didn’t pursue it further. I think I’ve done some good writing on my blog — and some not so good — but I wasn’t writing with an audience of would-be employers in mind. And because it IS very personal stuff, I’m not entirely comfortable broadcasting the fact that I blog to all & sundry. And I think that’s what I would worry about most in your situation — not so much that you have posted something that would disqualify you from a job, but just having people find out far more about you than you are prepared to let them know at this point in your relationship with them.
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