Job applicants are usually asked a fairly predictable set of questions by HR administration during the job interview process, such as inquiries about their prior experience, weaknesses, strengths, etc.
However, The Associated Press reports that an increasing number of companies are asking applicants for more personal information – their Facebook username and password.
While the rise of social media has resulted in many employers checking out potential workers' profiles on social networking sites to get a feel for their personalities, some companies and government agencies have gone beyond simple perusing to more invasive tactics.
Applicants are now being asked to log into their Facebook accounts for potential employers to see.
"It's an invasion of privacy for private employers to insist on looking at people's private Facebook pages as a condition of employment or consideration in an application process," said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Catherine Crump.
The AP cites the example of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services security guard Robert Collins, who was asked for his Facebook login information during an interview so the agency could see if he had any gang affiliations.
