2008 Woodie Awards
Facebook hurts career chances
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Editorials
It is safe to assume that by now, most college students have a Facebook account. The Web site has changed its policy to include everyone, even individuals not pertaining to a school, or workplace.Facebook serves as a good networking tool-meet people in your major, stay in touch with friends back home and of course post pictures.
The classic college movie Animal House shows us that college is often seen as a place to party and of course learn, grow, get educated and make friends. Yes, learning is on the list. Why? Because most people won't pay to take a test and not receive something in return-in this case a diploma.
One can assume that parties in college may not have changed much since the Animal House era, but one thing has-technology. In the past there was no worry about what would pop up if someone Googled your name, but now anything could happen.
MSNBC wrote an article about how social network sites, namely Facebook, are limiting opportunities for student. Van Allen runs a company that recruits candidates for hospitals. Allen said he had come across qualified applicants, but are coming up against a wall on Facebook.
Allen admits to checking the site and found that it often made the applicant seem less qualified. Allen said the company is concerned that their patients would find out about the personal lives of their new hirers. Allen's company is not the only one that does this. The article stated that 23 percent look at social network Web sites. Surprisingly, one-third of those searches lead to rejection. Some may say this is unfair, that it is an invasion of privacy. But, the Internet is a public forum. If you were going to hire someone, and looked at their Facebook before hiring them, would you hire them if they had the pictures you have of yourself?
The classic college movie Animal House shows us that college is often seen as a place to party and of course learn, grow, get educated and make friends. Yes, learning is on the list. Why? Because most people won't pay to take a test and not receive something in return-in this case a diploma.
One can assume that parties in college may not have changed much since the Animal House era, but one thing has-technology. In the past there was no worry about what would pop up if someone Googled your name, but now anything could happen.
MSNBC wrote an article about how social network sites, namely Facebook, are limiting opportunities for student. Van Allen runs a company that recruits candidates for hospitals. Allen said he had come across qualified applicants, but are coming up against a wall on Facebook.
Allen admits to checking the site and found that it often made the applicant seem less qualified. Allen said the company is concerned that their patients would find out about the personal lives of their new hirers. Allen's company is not the only one that does this. The article stated that 23 percent look at social network Web sites. Surprisingly, one-third of those searches lead to rejection. Some may say this is unfair, that it is an invasion of privacy. But, the Internet is a public forum. If you were going to hire someone, and looked at their Facebook before hiring them, would you hire them if they had the pictures you have of yourself?
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