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In an interview with CNN’s Laura Coates on May 28, 2024, Kevin O'Leary, Chairman of O'Leary Ventures and a judge on Shark Tank, warned students participating in protests across college campuses that their actions could negatively affect their future job prospects. Coates asked,
“Wouldn’t involvement in protests like these, for example, deter you from hiring some young adults from any of these schools?”
In response, O'Leary emphasized the long-term consequences of getting involved in protests, particularly in the age of advanced surveillance technologies. The Shark Tank investor further underscored his point with a caution about the growing role of AI in career decisions, saying,
"You are trashing your future...And look, I'm not against you protesting, but you must understand, in today's economy with A.I. technology, you just killed your career. I feel sad for them."
The consequences of student protests on future job prospects: Insights from Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
The role of AI in modern hiring practices
O'Leary underscored how new technology, particularly AI and high-resolution surveillance tools, are reshaping the job market. He explained that many employers, including himself, conduct "deep, dark searches" on candidates to evaluate their backgrounds. The Shark Tank investor noted,
"When I'm hiring somebody and I'm not different than any other corporation, you just heard from this 500 CEOs...We do what's called a deep, dark search. So if you're a candidate in the executive element of a company or any candidate of materiality, you do this."
O'Leary emphasized that these practices aren't limited to large corporations, as even small companies employ similar strategies to vet potential employees.
The deep search process includes combing through publicly available footage and unedited videos, some of which may capture individuals participating in protests. O'Leary pointed out that with the availability of high-resolution video, actions that might have been overlooked in the past are now being captured clearly and permanently.
"All of this imagery that you're seeing tonight, all of this unedited film, is going to be there in about two weeks," O'Leary said.
This evolving surveillance landscape means that candidates’ involvement in protests could be tracked and affect their career opportunities.
The impact of protest involvement on personal branding
O'Leary also discussed the long-term implications of participating in protests on personal branding. In today’s job market, personal branding plays a crucial role in determining a candidate's success. O'Leary stressed that actions taken during protests, particularly those involving violence or other controversial behavior, can damage one’s reputation. He noted,
"If you're burning down something or taking a flag down or fighting with police, I'm sorry, you're trashing your personal brand."
In an increasingly competitive job market, employers can find candidates with the same qualifications and skills as those who may have engaged in protests. The Shark Tank investor explained,
"I know I can find someone else just as good as you, of which there are tens of thousands of candidates that didn't participate in this."
He made it clear that employers are not just looking for qualified candidates but individuals who align with the values of their company. Involvement in protests could send the wrong message to employers who prioritize professionalism and responsibility.
The dangers of underestimating the consequences of protest participation
Finally, O'Leary expressed concern for students who may not fully understand the consequences of their actions. He acknowledged that protests have been a part of American history, but he warned that today’s technology makes the risks more significant.
"Most of those were shot on 16 millimeter film. The majority, 80, 90% of that was high, grainy. You can't really get any resolution...But unfortunately for these participants in the last few weeks, that's not the case." he explained.
The Shark Tank investor highlighted that while protesting is a form of free speech, students need to consider the long-term effects of their participation.
"You may be a great candidate. Then I'll find that you were doing this or fighting the police or whatever it was," O'Leary said.
The potential for a protest video to resurface years later could be damaging, and he warned that it could lead to a candidate being rejected for a job despite having the right qualifications.
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