A two-second decision to post a controversial photo online can have troubling consequences and potentially be the difference between securing employment and not.
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Some Charles Sturt University students found themselves in hot water on Thursday night after a “politically incorrect” themed party caused an uproar in the local and state headlines.
An individual’s digital footprint, their online presence or identity, can have huge implications for obtaining future employment, according to Wagga experts.
Kaity Fuller, a consultant from Wagga Recruitment, said an individual’s digital footprint can “definitely impact” their chances of future employment as the agency searches candidates online.
“It all determines employment especially when we look online at their social media networks and how they present themselves in the community,” she said.
Ms Fuller said the recruitment agency works with employers and job seekers to find the best person to fit a role. In terms of working with those who may have a negative social media presence – affecting their digital footprint – Ms Fuller said the agency will use different methods depending on the person to improve their online profile.
“We meet with them and see how they interact in person with our recruitment team and those around them and also looking at their body language,” she said.
“It’s important to delve further and get to know them in order to look at ways of improving their digital footprint.”
Former Wagga resident and PhD candidate in information studies, Wade Kelly, said it is important for people to realise that any information that is published online is “permanent”. He said despite efforts to remove this published content, it is still there and therefore “can still haunt you”.
“People have cameras and therefore your privacy is always at risk, people need to be accountable for their actions in public spaces because now people can document and share content easily,” Mr Kelly said.
A CSU spokesperson said the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, as they were only made aware on Friday and want to make sure they follow “due process”.
The university is still trying to identify students involved and they dismissed rumours that some students have been suspended.
