Comments on: The potential trap that could be social networking (!), ctd. http://workingworldcareers.com/2009/06/11/the-potential-trap-that-could-be-social-networking-ctd/ Careers in International Education, Exchange, and Development Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:17:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Overmann http://workingworldcareers.com/2009/06/11/the-potential-trap-that-could-be-social-networking-ctd/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Mark Overmann Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:05:02 +0000 http://workingworldcareers.com/?p=870#comment-208 Frank, I don't think not having a Facebook page puts you at any sort of disadvantage in your job hunt or career building. I think you're right---not having one is more or less the equivalent of hiding it from the world. My point centers more around the idea that, if you have a Facebook page already (which many, many of us do), you might want to begin considering how it could be used to your advantage. This advantage would come in subtle ways---you probably aren't going to be posting your resume on Facebook or searching for professional contacts like you would on LinkedIn*. Rather, as a Facebook savvy generation moves its way into management positions, these people are probably going to be more inclined to see a job applicant's Facebook page not just as a way to uncover dirt or inappropriate pictures, but also as a glimpse into who that person is in his daily life. For better or for worse, Facebook is the online portrayal of who we are and how we live our lives. So my thought simply was, if we want to make a good online first impression to a potential supervisor, we might want to think more strategically about what we <em>are</em> showing on our Facebook pages (and not just we aren't). *I think LinkedIn is an important tool and that you do put yourself at a career-building disadvantage if you don't have a full profile there. Frank,
I don’t think not having a Facebook page puts you at any sort of disadvantage in your job hunt or career building. I think you’re right—not having one is more or less the equivalent of hiding it from the world.

My point centers more around the idea that, if you have a Facebook page already (which many, many of us do), you might want to begin considering how it could be used to your advantage. This advantage would come in subtle ways—you probably aren’t going to be posting your resume on Facebook or searching for professional contacts like you would on LinkedIn*. Rather, as a Facebook savvy generation moves its way into management positions, these people are probably going to be more inclined to see a job applicant’s Facebook page not just as a way to uncover dirt or inappropriate pictures, but also as a glimpse into who that person is in his daily life. For better or for worse, Facebook is the online portrayal of who we are and how we live our lives.

So my thought simply was, if we want to make a good online first impression to a potential supervisor, we might want to think more strategically about what we are showing on our Facebook pages (and not just we aren’t).

*I think LinkedIn is an important tool and that you do put yourself at a career-building disadvantage if you don’t have a full profile there.

]]> By: Frank http://workingworldcareers.com/2009/06/11/the-potential-trap-that-could-be-social-networking-ctd/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Frank Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:47:04 +0000 http://workingworldcareers.com/?p=870#comment-176 Interesting thoughts. Given that you can use a Facebook page to your advantage, would you say a person without a Facebook page is at a disadvantage? Or is that equivalent in your book to hiding your page from the world? Interesting thoughts. Given that you can use a Facebook page to your advantage, would you say a person without a Facebook page is at a disadvantage? Or is that equivalent in your book to hiding your page from the world?

]]> By: G http://workingworldcareers.com/2009/06/11/the-potential-trap-that-could-be-social-networking-ctd/comment-page-1/#comment-175 G Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:06:33 +0000 http://workingworldcareers.com/?p=870#comment-175 I think a good rule of thumb is to not accept the friend requests of people you don't know, even if they did go to the same school you did or if you have friends in common. On Facebook, at least. I tend to be less concerned when people I don't know want to connect on LinkedIn. I'll usually accept. I think a good rule of thumb is to not accept the friend requests of people you don’t know, even if they did go to the same school you did or if you have friends in common. On Facebook, at least. I tend to be less concerned when people I don’t know want to connect on LinkedIn. I’ll usually accept.

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