Are there images of you on Facebook and MySpace, drinking and engaging in lewd behavior? the party shot with you wearing the tiny ballerina skirt and tights is cute, but so is the one with you brandishing a whip and a shiny silver pair of cuffs; and the narrative is certainly no better, because it tells (in graphic detail) of all the raunchy things the pictures don't show (and there are many), but you are considered among the most cool and everyone wants to hang with you; you're invited everywhere. Besides, what's the harm in having fun? You're responsible during the week; you work in corporate America, draw a nice salary, exercise good investment options, have a 401K, yada, yada, yada. Yet you are a weekend warrior, and weekends belong to you. After all, you're young (maybe) and vital, and vibrant, and your fun is certainly not hurting anyone. Is it? Think again.
If you build it they will come...if you put it out there, they will find it. Furthermore, did you know that what you post on the web could haunt you for years to come, simply because others may download and retain your words and images, and use them later to cast you in not so flattering light? Do you really want the world at-large to know that you get drunk and cross-dress on weekends; that you use illicit drugs; get loose after a few martinis; become aggressive with weaker vessels; display violent tendencies; or turn into an all out freak on the weekend?
It may not matter now, but what about later when you're ready to take the bar exam, wish to run for congress, or serve as a county commissioner, or when you're in line for a big promotion, one which requires a background check. And yes, they will google you, and Whalah, traces of that young and reckless, OR old and foolish self will emerge.
You may have a great credit score, and an outstanding performance record on the job, but how would you like to be passed over simply because your public image is a contradiction to the image your company desires to project to its clientele? Today, even in an economic downturn, employers do thorough background checks on potential employees, and I know of a few people who did not get offers because of what background checks revealed about their liberal sharing of information through social media such as MySpace and Facebook.
No, no employer said to them, "we're rejecting you because of the risque photos you have posted on facebook, or because of the hostility you expressed toward a former employer in a public forum." Of course they were told that "though the competition was tough, and it was a difficult decision, we chose a slightly more qualified and experienced candidate." And how do you fight that? If you don't believe me, then just google yourself. What comes up, and what does it reveal about you? Is this the lifelong image that you want to present to the world? Think about it, because the written word is permanent and lasting, and so are your images, especially when placed in the wrong hands. Here are a few tips for keeping your social media communication within the realm of your control:
1. don't post anything, anywhere that you are not comfortable having shared everywhere;
2. when you commit words to print, in a sense you immortalize then, meaning they can reappear and reappear at will, so be very careful about what you write, and who you share it with (they can share it with others);
3. with technology today, people can do all types of things with seemingly innocent images, so don't share them freely;
4. If you'd be uncomfortable with your mother reading it, it probably shouldn't be posted online;
5. my friends on facebook equals an unknown number which is multiplied several times by the number of friends that each of my friends has, and then exponentially by the number of friends all of those other friends have (you get the picture);
6.view social communication as a part of your resume, and when you look across the desk at an interviewer, know that he/she sees you, as you are before him/her, in the flesh, on facebook, on MySpace, and everywhere, and sometimes, this may make it difficult for this hiring manager to picture you overseeing mergers and acquisitions, teaching classes, handling a case load, or treating patients.
No comments:
Post a Comment