Facebook is key in college. For a majority of people it is a way to stay in touch.. .for others, it is a way to stalk people and see what they are up to. Ever since Facebook moved out of the realm of being "college oriented", there were so many more ways to use it as more than just a social tool.
Employers use facebook as a means to find out about their potential employees- or applicants. In one article, it said that 1 out of 10 people were not hired because their employer searched and found something not appealing about them. I think it is fair for employers to search for their potential hires on google, but I think that facebook or photo albums should not be searchable.
Facebook is used for a social network amongst friends. It isn't fair for employers to break into that to see what they do when they are with their friends. I am making huge assumptions, but if you talk to a lot of the other people that you work with that may be older, they will attest to the fact that they were huge partiers back in the day. Just because there wasn't the technology- digital cameras or the internet, they were not subject to the amount of scrutiny that we are nowadays. To compare where we are now compared to where we were about 30 years, there are obviously so many variables and differences (i.e the party scene, use of drugs), however I think that it is a fair comparison. Employers were hired because of their talent and their attitude and then once they were in the company, if the company determined they lacked the qualities that directly reflected the company goals they were fired. I think that to a certain extent that should be how it is today.
The "certain extent" is what can be found on google or other informational sites. Looking at photos of people drinking or partying or whatever (for purposes of this, do not consider pictures that are sexual in nature- nudity, etc) is normal for the most part. Information about what they have said or participated in or can be searched. It would be interesting to see events in what they did. And with the information that is found out through these means, it should still be taken lightly. If a person interviews and makes a great impression than the other information that can be found out online should just be lightly looked at... not make or break a job offer.
I know that there is a fine line between what is wrong and what can be allowed. And as this post can be seen as semi confusing, I think that is what this whole situation can be seen as. That is the problem now. With the growing technology it is still a new process. No one can say definitively what should be allowed. Until then, the best way to prevent problems is to limit views and use hard copy pictures...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Well put. You are right, it isn't fair that we can be tracked down on facebook when we signed up to be in touch with friends. Personally, I think facebook has sold out big time but I have to be mad at them and not my potential employers. To be honest, I might do the same thing if I were in their shoes. The best thing we can do for ourselves is watch what goes up online and maintain our image as much as possible. At least facebook gave us tools to restrict views, although they should have thought who they were catering to before they went and ticked everyone off. (Especially the news feed, I am still yet to get over that...)
I have to disagree with you: employers should be able to look at anything you put public. If you have pictures of yourself drinking and partying the chances of you calling in late or sick on Monday because your hung over is much bigger than someone who doesn't have pictures of that stuff up.
Also.. it's not like facebook is holding a gun to everyones head, telling them to post all of their personal info and pictures.
An interesting way to think about this is how private our parents/uncles/aunts keep information and how we feel REQUIRED to hand it all out. Which way is "right" I don't know, but it's something to think about.
I think it's like you said Sarah. The older generation was a bit wild and we are surprised to learn this information because we make assumptions about life base on our own experiences.
The work environment is a tightly controlled construct and the way you act at work or even in the classroom doesn't necessarily dictate how you act in your private life.
A friend of mine who smokes a lot and drinks a lot is probably one of the most talented people in his law office. Smart guy. Great sense of humor.
Someone else I know who claims to "make bad life choices" in a semi sarcastic voice, works for a corporate PR and management. his grades were so so but his ability to adapt and learn quickly made him a good employee.
Greek organizations are notorious for foolish behavior but according to statistics, the majority of congressmen/senators and CEO's were affiliated members.
Eh...who knows? Maybe the answer to everything is sex, drugs and alcohol? Or not but it definitely make you think about some things.
I completley agree with you. What is posted online and is meant to be seen by your friends, should remain like that. I think that being able to check up on your profile is an invasion of privacy. I don't think drinking or partying can really affect your performance in a job. Like you said, I just do not think it's fair to judge based on your online profile, which to begin with, they shouldn't have access to.
T Michael's point, I think what sparked my thinking about the older generation is partly due to Greek Organizations.
You say that the majority of "congressmen/senators and CEO's were affiliated members." I too read that fact, being part of a Greek organization and I find it funny that business men or women, who I am sure had some crazy times in college, would rely heavily on sometimes trivial pictures carrying a red solo cup.
Many of the business executives I have met were part of Greek life and talk about the benefits and leadership experiences they gained being part of one. I guess it is just hard to gauge which type of person you get.. one that can understand and relate or one that places themselves in a different league...
Post a Comment