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Everyone has heard the rumor that companies are going to websites such as Facebook and Myspace to investigate potential employees. Even after hearing the rumor students still refuse to use a protected Facebook account. Here are five reasons why everyone should protect their Facebook/Myspace account:

1. Your Facebook account contains your personal information. If your account is viewable to everyone, your address and phone number is available to anyone who wants to get it. Two solutions: Do not put this information on your Facebook or make it so only your approved friends can view it.
2. Pictures are evidence of why you should not be hired. Whether you or your best friend posted the pictures does not matter. What employers see is you being irresponsible — that is something they do not want. Two solutions: ‘untag’ yourself from these photos or make it so only your friends can see your pictures.
3. Your comment wall is just as incriminating as a picture. If your friend replied to your wall saying something to the effect of ‘wow, you were totally drunk last night’ — and employer sees that as irresponsible as well. The solution: make it so only your friends can see your wall.
4. Your Facebook applications can influence how an employer views you. Having applications such as ‘my favorite drink’ or ‘the bartender’ when you are under age comes across very bad.
5. Think of your profile as a public resume. If you represent yourself professionally, people will see you as a professional. However — using the privacy settings is suggested, even if you do not have questionable content on your Facebook/Myspace.

There is one common solution in every single one of the above. Turn on your privacy settings! It takes no more than three minutes to set up and can save you from losing a job in the future. If you insist on putting questionable content on the internet (photos, address, phone number, etc) at least be sensible about it. Facebook and Myspace provide methods for you to protect yourself and your information — use them.

A good way to think about putting information on the internet: once it is up there for the first time — it is on the internet forever. You is going around and ’stockpiling’ your information.

Justin

Tags: employment, Facebook, jobs, MySpace, social networking

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