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Social Networks and Your Job Search

Facebook. MySpace. Sure - they are a great way to keep in touch with friends, share pictures & funny stories, but do you really know who is viewing your profile?

Over the past few months, there have been an increasing number of articles appearing about on-line networks. Even at the Wisconsin Association of Colleges and Employers (WI-ACE) May conference, career counselors shared stories about employers that have searched these sites.  One unknowing student had written a blog about "annoying customers" on her MySpace account.  A few days later, she was dismissed from her position because the employer had seen it. 

According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than one quarter (26.9%) of employers surveyed have Googled or gone on social network sites to search for candidates.  Whether you agree with this tactic or not, the fact is, it's public information. 

Here are some recent articles about social networking sites with advice how to protect yourself. 

• "MySpace is Public Space When It Comes to Job Search" - CollegeGrad.com press release

• "Warning: Social Networking Can Be Hazardous to Your Job Search" (PDF File) - Article by CareerBuilder.com Editor, Kate Lorenz

• "How Will Your Online Profile Affect Potential Job Offers" - JobWeb Article by Kevin Gray

• "Entry Level Job Seeker, Google Thyself!" - CollegeGrad.com press release

• "Google + Facebook + Alcohol = Trouble" - ArsTechnica On-Line article by Nate Anderson

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