It nearly happened to me.  Sure, I had heard all the stories: “Blogger Fired for Lambasting Boss” “College Grads Beware: HR Checking MySpace and Facebook”  I just didn’t expect that I could be another web statistic.

I have several businesses.  I am involved in a lot of associations, too.  I am always honest with my potential employers and partners about my participation, but I experienced an interesting twist from my LI profile.

Since the listing of employment history is chronological, any part-time business or after-hours job that you begin after your current employer is listed first.  It’s what people see on top, even if you have multiple “current” jobs.

One Friday afternoon, I was preparing for a friend’s wedding.  I had taken the day off work, but I checked my voice mail before leaving the house.  My employer, whom I had known for seven years, had left a message that he had seen my LinkedIn profile and noticed that I had listed my recent side business in “first position.”  He interpreted that to mean that I valued my personal business more than my commitment to him.  The message ended ominously: “I think we both know what needs to happen next.”  Ouch.

I was fortunate enough to have the weekend to prepare for the conversation, but it didn’t end with good feelings on either side.  He felt betrayed, and I felt untrusted.  Double ouch.  That job didn’t last much longer.

We sometimes walk a dangerous line on LinkedIn.  It is, after all, a way to ferret out potential jobs or employees.  It is also a place where we share connections with bosses, coworkers and clients.  Be aware that your viewpoint is not always shared by the people who pay you.

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