I think most of us would agree that asking someone you don't know on a date in a business setting is pretty inappropriate. So what's the difference on a site like LinkedIn? Despite the fact that the site is used by many to network for employment and other business opportunities, some people are apparently using it like it's a dating app. Karolyn Hart, chief operating officer and co-founder of her own company, felt the need to speak out about this, so wrote an open letter on LinkedIn last week to explain the problem, as well as her solution. The way she gets around it is by changing her surname to "Mrs" rather than the more ambiguous "Ms", though it's unclear whether that will completely turn men away from making propositions on the site. "I just added the 'Mrs.' to my name on LinkedIn," Karolyn, who is from Windsor, Canada, explained, "If we met in person you'd notice the wedding ring and unless you were a creep you'd respect it." She believes that the use of 'Mrs' is tantamount to seeing the wedding ring in a physical meeting, keeping guys at bay on the site. She does explain that the "inquiries" were "quite gentlemanly", but she has heard from stories from other women that were much worse. "One woman I know had to block someone and one even changed her profile picture to a cartoon. I can see why other women would be annoyed to get these messages on LinkedIn. "I have spoken about the sexism in the industry I have worked in. I think it is one of those things where you sadly just learn how to manage it. "I would like to hope and believe that we are in a society that you can respect that someone is putting out a pretty clear signal." Alyssa Hill, from San Diego, has also weighed in on this problem, explaining that the problem is due to the "current climate we are in", stating that some men simply don't see women as professionals. Receiving more persistent messages, she has no time for those that use the site for reasons other than for business. "A lot of men are using LinkedIn to hit on people. They should know that it is not a dating site. They are putting everyone else in an uncomfortable situation. "There was one message that said, 'hey beautiful'. As soon as you use the word 'beautiful' you are taking the conversation somewhere that isn't professional. "In the last year I have seen women receive some really vulgar messages. I think it is to do with the climate we are in. It feels like we're going back in time. "I think it is to do with sexism. I think they do it because they don't see women in a professional way. It's sad. They are still not seeing us as people. It's awful but it is true. Alyssa has been with her husband for five years, and on LinkedIN since 2011, but says there has been a rise in this behaviour in the last few years as social media has become more popular. Due to this she has employed Karolyn's strategy of changing her name to "Mrs" to keep at least some of the requests at bay. "People have asked me to go to dinner and say, "hey I live in San Diego too, let's meet up" when they are not in the same industry as me. The pet names just drive me crazy. That is not my name. It is so corny and weird." "When I was younger I just didn't reply. I wanted to avoid that. Now I really give people the spiel that it is not a dating site. I'm here to make professional connections. 

"I thought I would have to put up a horrible picture of myself to stop them from hitting on me"

"I haven't gotten any responses from that. I think it is because they are embarrassed. I'm sure someone will respond one day. I'm very open to putting people in their place. "It is so much worse online, people have more confidence online. Most of my negative interactions with men take place online." While it has made some changes, Karolyn doesn't believe it will be that easy. "I'm not so naive to think that all of a sudden we are going to have this barrier of protection," she explained, "When you are interacting in a virtual place it is hard to recreate those signals you have when you meet in person". Hopefully this does make some changes, but it does raise the question of who exactly uses LinkedIn to hook up with people? Someone expecting something work-related and instead getting flirtations from a stranger is pretty damn weird regardless of the intent.

In this modern world we all occupy, traditional ideas we might have had of privacy are being rendered more and more obsolete.

Now, a quick search of social media can tell strangers a truly astonishing amount about us, particularly if we're not careful with our privacy settings. Online security and data protection is, of course, a fiercely debated issue at the present time, and most people now have some idea of how to keep their information safe online.

The reality at present, though, is that we are leaving behind footprints on the internet that might give away information about our private lives we'd rather not disclose.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/SheRatesDogs/status/1179114092029566977]]

You have probably heard stories of people being rejected from potential job offers after their prospective employers combed through their social media accounts, and many of us have probably been warned to set our profiles to private at one point or another.

But now, News.com.au reports that a marketing company has shut down its social media after facing a backlash for allegedly "shaming" a female job applicant over her bikini Instagram photo.

24-year-old Emily Clow took to Twitter to share her story. She wrote;

'i was objectified earlier today by a company because of a picture of me in a bikini. they claimed it made me an “unprofessional.” they screenshot the photo, posted it on their insta story and called me out. i am still baffled that the company handled it in such a manner."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/emilyeclow/status/1179074719049494528?]]

Here's the photo in question:

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/By3twBqHBpP/]]

The company is said to have shared the photograph to their own Instagram story, writing;

“PSA (because I know some of you applicants are looking at this): Do not share your social media with a potential employer if this is the kind of content on it.

“I am looking for a professional marketer — not a bikini model.

“Go on with your bad self and do whatever in private. But this is not doing you any favours in finding a professional job.”

And social media rushed to Emily's support. One Twitter user commented, "wow guess it’s a lot to ask to be able to wear swimwear AND be employed. what a world." Another added, "Absolutely baffled how anyone working in social media content could have thought that was a good idea?"

At the time of writing, the company's Instagram page is set to private.

A woman has opened up about the fact that she uses LinkedIn as a dating app in order to find a decent man.

Now I know what you're thinking, LinkedIn for dating? What? What happened to Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid?

Apparently, they're not serving their own purpose anymore and Linkedin has stepped up to offer a new, and slightly more innovative, option.

Long gone are the days for professional networking and showcasing your skills, it's now apparently the hub to meet a potential other half, well, according to one TikToker.

Taking to TikTok, user @candi.licious has been giving her followers an insight into her experiences on 10 dating apps in 10 weeks, and after giving Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder a shot, she then moved on to LinkedIn to see what the playing field looked like on there.

"Why am I using LinkedIn as a dating app? The filters!", she told her 47,000 followers. "Number one, I can filter for an education - MBA, baby. Number two, I can filter by industry. I'm looking at doctor, lawyer, finance bro.

"Number three, I can filter by country, very important. Unfortunately, I'm unable to filter by height but at least there are very good-looking photos that I can kind of do height analysis on."

I mean, if that works for you, it works for you, right?

Alongside the video, the TikToker also wrote: "I'm looking for A-grade men and Linkedin has A-grade filters!"

Hundreds took to the comments to talk about the unique idea, with many even recalling their own experiences on the app.

"I dated a top executive at a major media company that I met on LinkedIn (as I was building a network for my startup). So yeah, it works," said one user.

"I checked my then bf’s LinkedIn page after we met through tinder. We are married now. LOL," another added.

A third pointed this out: "The thing is, on LinkedIn they only have one perfectly edited headshot. I need a full posture pic for my evaluation."

"I have a 30 years old photo there," this user said, insinuating you can't trust what you see on the platform.

Credit: TikTok Credit: TikTok Credit: TikTok

Others also wondered if they should drop the actual dating apps and pick up Linkedin.

Well, if @candi.licious' experiences are anything to go by, it seems as though it's worth giving the idea a shot, especially if you've exhausted all your other options.

Featured Image Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty

  "Hooters Girls" have a certain reputation in pop-culture, and I couldn't help but question just how much of it was true. What really are the "requirements" needed to get a job at Hooters? We contacted several current and former employees of the restaurant chain to find out what it's really like to don the bright orange short-shorts and work as a Hooters Girl. [post_page_title]Personality Over Experience[/post_page_title] There are several "qualities" Hooters rate over previous work experience in the restaurant industry. It doesn't matter how many years experience you've got as a server, Hooters will always pick the girls with the best personality, as they believe customers come in to "connect" with the waitresses, not for the service. [caption id="attachment_1783" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]We're Not "Servers"[/post_page_title] Yes, Hooters is perfectly okay with hiring women they deem to be "the right size" and "pretty". This is because they don't hire their employees as "servers", but as "entertainers". Although I'm not sure Hooters is the best path into the entertainment industry. [caption id="attachment_1787" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Big "Hooters" Required?[/post_page_title] It's often believed that you've got to have big breasts in order to bag yourself a job at Hooters. Well, that is just a rumor, and it simply isn't true. There is no certain bra size employees are required to have, and the restaurants will hire girls from an A-cup upwards! It really doesn't matter to Hooters, it's all about confidence and personality! [caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]The Bigger The Better[/post_page_title] Yes, although all sizes are welcome, the women at Hooters know that bigger breasts usually equal bigger tips from the customers. We were told that a lot of the employees will do what they can to "enhance" their "assets". Some simply pad their bras, whilst others will deliberately wear a bra size that is too small in order to boost their cleavage. [caption id="attachment_1790" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Drawing The Famous Owl (In Ketchup)[/post_page_title] All Hooters entertainers must go through training, and this is the bizarre skill they must perfect if they want to keep their job. Interestingly, the one skill all Hooters Girls must perfect is being able to draw the owl logo in ketchup - so artistic skills are a must. [caption id="attachment_1798" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]The Dress Code[/post_page_title] All Hooters entertainers must wear sneakers and socks as a part of their uniform, and the socks MUST be worn in a particular way. There is a particular "scrunch" to the socks which apparently makes their legs look leaner if done correctly. [caption id="attachment_1785" align="aligncenter" width="760"]The Dress Code[/caption] Credit: Getty [post_page_title]Pantyhose Problems[/post_page_title] As well as the socks, the pantyhose must also be a certain way, the Hooters girls must buy their own pantyhose, and they must be EXACTLY the correct type. Their official term for the color is "suntan" and employees must not wear any other color. The servers must also wear their hair down and not in a ponytail - so I hope it's not too hot in there for them! [caption id="attachment_1799" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Fancy Playing Dress Up?[/post_page_title] Hooters girls MUST wear makeup on every shift. This includes mascara and lipstick, and their official website states how makeup "should appear natural to best accentuate your features". Also, Friday is the only day of the month the Hooters girls can wear black, and once a month most restaurants hold a special costume day. [caption id="attachment_1784" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Swapping Tops[/post_page_title] Like soccer players, Hooters Girls also enjoy the occasional "shirt swap" with other employees in different cities. So, if you ever go to a Hooters in Orlando and wonder why one of the girls is wearing a "Hollywood" location top, that because the employees are allowed to trade tops when they visit other chains. [caption id="attachment_1791" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Harsh Uniform Policy?[/post_page_title] Some chains have incorporated a seasonal uniform based on their location. So in cold weather areas, the Hooters Girls can wear long sleeves. But many believe the harshest rule is the fact that Hooters Girls cannot leave work with their uniform showing (apart from their trainers). If they are seen outside of work in their uniform, it's a policy that they're fired immediately. It sounds harsh, but apparently, it's for safety reasons. [caption id="attachment_1796" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Secret Saleswoman[/post_page_title] If a Hooters Girl proves successful at selling merch, they will be rewarded with better shifts. Better shifts mean better tips, which mean more money. This sales tactic is all apart of a 16 step plan to Hooters Girls customer service. Another one is that during your dining experience, your table should be visited by three different Hooters Girls - so it's not because they like you. [caption id="attachment_1792" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Courtesy With Couples[/post_page_title] Sure, when men come in, it's all about showering them with attention. However, when a couple comes in, there are certain rules in place. Mainly, the Hooters Girls must never show the guy too much attention and appear threatening. One way they do this is to make sure they sit next to the woman and not the man. [caption id="attachment_1794" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]No Hugs At Hooters[/post_page_title] The worst type of customers that come into the restaurants are the middle-aged, drunk businessmen who feel they are entitled to touch the staff. However, although this isn't welcomed, it is actually outlined in the employee handbook that HUGS are forbidden between Hooters Girls and customers. [caption id="attachment_1795" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption]

[post_page_title]Bored Means Board Games[/post_page_title] If there are very few customers in the restaurant, it's not uncommon for the employees to play board games with the customers. It's not only fun for both the customers and the Hooters Girls, but it also helps pass the time. One of our sources recalls enjoying a game of Hungry Hippos with three firefighters. [caption id="attachment_1797" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Dance The Night Away[/post_page_title] Dancing is another way employees entertain during the slower shifts. However, it's not as spontaneous as you may think. Hooters Girls learn choreographed dance routines during their training. Whenever they hear a particular song playing during their shift, they have to stop what they're doing and dance. [caption id="attachment_1800" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]"Hooters Virgin"[/post_page_title] Whether you're a great singer or a terrible one, all Hooters Girls are forced to sing certain songs and chants for different scenarios. A "Hooters Virgin" is basically somebody who has never been to a Hooters before. If they find out from your friends that it's your first time, they won't go gentle on you. The protocol is to sit the "Hooters Virgin" on his own, and the girls will surround him, sing and dance to the point where they look stupid and the guy is embarrassed. [caption id="attachment_1788" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]No Cell Phones![/post_page_title] Now, although this never happened to any of the girls we spoke to, they did say it has happened in other chains. Basically, all Hooters Girls are supplied with a fanny pack-like pouch to carry their menu pad, pens etc, around with them. If a manager suspects that you're storing a cell phone, they have been known to take the pouch and smash it against a wall in order to break whatever shouldn't be in there. [caption id="attachment_1805" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Free Meal (But Only If It's "Healthy")[/post_page_title] Employees are only allowed a free meal off the "healthy" menu. If you haven't seen the "healthy" menu, that's because it doesn't appear on the regular menu. If the girls want other items on the menu, they have to pay at a discounted price. Oh, but fries remain at full price. [caption id="attachment_1793" align="aligncenter" width="760"]Free Meal (But Only If It's "Healthy")[/caption] Credit: Getty [post_page_title]Employee "Perks"[/post_page_title] In order to maintain a certain body look, some restaurants offer their employees discounts for tanning and gym memberships. Yes, that may sound great, but what if you're not into that sort of thing? One of the girls we spoke to said this actually knocked her confidence throughout her employment. [caption id="attachment_1801" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]"Hi! Welcome To Hooters!"[/post_page_title] It is actually company policy for each of the girls to shout, "Hi! Welcome To Hooters!" So if you've never heard this, then they're not doing their job at your local store. The girls we spoke to said that this doesn't last, as over the duration of a shift they lose their stamina for an over-the-top greeting. [caption id="attachment_1802" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]How Much Do Hooters Girls Earn?[/post_page_title]

In America, we know that 99% of servers earn minimum wage plus tips. But you'd expect Hooters Girls to earn more, right? Well, it doesn't matter about all that extra notoriety that comes with the chain, Hooters Girls are also earning minimum wage plus tips.

[caption id="attachment_1803" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Wives Hate Them[/post_page_title] As we already know, Hooters girls will do everything in their power not to seem threatening to other women when they're serving couples, but that doesn't mean that they're totally out of the woods with wives. In fact, one of the girls we spoke to said that a woman once ordered for her husband because she didn't want him talking to her! [caption id="attachment_1789" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Hooters Girls Don't Date Customers[/post_page_title] It's highly unlikely/impossible that you'll ever get to date a Hooters Girl. After each shift, the numbers they've been given along with their tips almost always make their way into the trash. To put this in context, one of the girls we interviewed said that during her six years working at the restaurant she never once saw a Hooters Girl go on a date with a customer. [caption id="attachment_1804" align="alignnone" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Friends For Life[/post_page_title] Every one of the girls we spoke to said that they made friends for life whilst working at Hooters. One even said that it helped her get over a particularly nasty break up when the girls in the restaurant went out of their way to cheer her up after her fiancé cheated on her. [caption id="attachment_1806" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]Customers Ask For Advice[/post_page_title] Hooters Girls aren't the loose women that many wives think they are. In reality, they give husbands and boyfriends advice on how to make their relationships work. Not every man who visits the restaurant has one thing on his mind. One of the girls we interviewed said a customer once gave her $1,000 for saving his marriage. Speaking of extremely large tips... [caption id="attachment_1807" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Credit: Getty[/caption] [post_page_title]The Biggest Tips Make It Worth It[/post_page_title] Hooters Girls might be getting paid for their good looks and personalities, but it can seriously pay off when it comes to counting their tips at the end of the night. Whilst most customers can't afford to tip them more than what you'd expect to be tipped in a restaurant, there's some who go all out... [caption id="attachment_1808" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Credit: Getty[/caption] Regular customers and those who're feeling particularly generous will tip their Hooters waitress extremely well. It's not unheard of for Hooters Girls to be gifted cars. However, it's more likely that good customers will spoil them when it's their birthday with soccer tickets or even a holiday!