2008 Woodie Awards
Facebook: colliding with the realities of the real world
Trish Klauser, Senior Director, Office of Career Development
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Perspectives
The popularity of Facebook as a social networking system is growing among college students. However, when the on-line world of Facebook collides with realities of the real world, Facebook takes on a different life and especially on college campuses around the country. Students believe their conversations are just between them and their friends, but accessing Facebook is like a phone tap. It can be used for both positive and negative purposes.
Many students spend hours online practicing critical social networking skills. With a large percentage of jobs being found through networking it is fortunate that students can also apply these same networking skills to their career development.
Knowing that employers can and sometimes do, view a potential employee's Facebook, students can include a resume and other professional information in the Facebook which would make them more marketable to employers.
Career counselors in the Office of Career Development are including the values and dangers of students participating in Facebook within various career planning and job search workshops and presentations.
An employer may easily run a Facebook profile for a student they plan to interview for an internship or job. Because alumni also have access to the Facebook site, it would be quite easy for many employers to join Facebook and access any student's profile.
For years, Career Development professionals have urged students to keep their voicemail greetings professional and their email names conventional, especially when actively applying for jobs and internship. Facebook profiles are no different.
The SHU Office of Career Development encourages students to keep their facebook profiles employer-friendly. Social networking sites can uncover the hidden job market but they can also be used by employers to eliminate a candidate from consideration.
While Sacred Heart University's Office of Career Development has not been notified of any situation of employers accessing Facebook to view students' profiles, there are reports from several different colleges that on and off-campus employers are evaluating potential candidates based on their Facebook groups, photos, or statements in their profiles.
You have control over what you put on your Facebook. Be aware of how Facebook can and is being used. Students should not post anything on their Facebook that they wouldn't intend parents, potential employers or school to see.
A student from another college summed things up well when she wisely reported being very cautious of facebook, stating that she had no plans to put any personal information on the site. Her concern was that it would come back to haunt her someday. Our advice to SHU students: always put your "best foot forward."
The SHU Office of Career Development has its own Facebook of sorts: Erecruiting, which links SHU students and alumni with employers, job openings, and internships. We invite SHU students to take a break from Facebook.com and visit SHU erecruiting at http://shu.erecruiting.com.
Many students spend hours online practicing critical social networking skills. With a large percentage of jobs being found through networking it is fortunate that students can also apply these same networking skills to their career development.
Knowing that employers can and sometimes do, view a potential employee's Facebook, students can include a resume and other professional information in the Facebook which would make them more marketable to employers.
Career counselors in the Office of Career Development are including the values and dangers of students participating in Facebook within various career planning and job search workshops and presentations.
An employer may easily run a Facebook profile for a student they plan to interview for an internship or job. Because alumni also have access to the Facebook site, it would be quite easy for many employers to join Facebook and access any student's profile.
For years, Career Development professionals have urged students to keep their voicemail greetings professional and their email names conventional, especially when actively applying for jobs and internship. Facebook profiles are no different.
The SHU Office of Career Development encourages students to keep their facebook profiles employer-friendly. Social networking sites can uncover the hidden job market but they can also be used by employers to eliminate a candidate from consideration.
While Sacred Heart University's Office of Career Development has not been notified of any situation of employers accessing Facebook to view students' profiles, there are reports from several different colleges that on and off-campus employers are evaluating potential candidates based on their Facebook groups, photos, or statements in their profiles.
You have control over what you put on your Facebook. Be aware of how Facebook can and is being used. Students should not post anything on their Facebook that they wouldn't intend parents, potential employers or school to see.
A student from another college summed things up well when she wisely reported being very cautious of facebook, stating that she had no plans to put any personal information on the site. Her concern was that it would come back to haunt her someday. Our advice to SHU students: always put your "best foot forward."
The SHU Office of Career Development has its own Facebook of sorts: Erecruiting, which links SHU students and alumni with employers, job openings, and internships. We invite SHU students to take a break from Facebook.com and visit SHU erecruiting at http://shu.erecruiting.com.