While Facebook once was reserved for college kids, its universal adoption has led many middle-aged subscribers to sign up and log on. Facing the higher unemployment and tougher competition for the job market, employers and jobhunters alike have resorted to using social networks as a hiring aid. This in result means that your profile will like become your digital first impression. This has several rammifications, of which we will explore here.
Firstly, for those of you who are within the original Facebook users, who signed on while in college and have since entered the job market, this means you need to review your profile with a HR Manager’s eye. Pictures of you doing kegstands at your best friend’s fraternity rush probably won’t create the impression that screams “management.” Akin to this, you should review all your online content accordingly. You do not necessarily need to delete your wall posts or take down pictures, but simply need to change your privacy settings so that your public profile is professional while you’re friends can still connect with you as they usually do. The best starting point is to remove network access to your pictures and wall posts. If a boss or someone you want to impress Facebooks you, you can also create custom settings to limit their ability to see anything other than your work history (for instance, once I got over the shock of being Facebooked by my mom, I changed the privacy settings so she couldn’t see the PG-13 wall posts between my girlfriend and I). Facebook has created the technology to adapt your profile for all contexts, but you have to take the time to properly utilize them.
For you older and likely newer users of Facebook, the thing to remember is that Facebook is not LinkedIn. Your potential employer has your resume and cover letter, so rather than making your profile an opportunity to reiterate your credentials, utilize the space to reveal dynamic qualities about yourself. If you have a blackbelt, speak Italian, or volunteer with a community organization, this is a great space to showcase it. However, remember that unless you change your privacy settings, such details as marital status, sexual orientation, age, and other information illegal for your potential employer to ask becomes readily available.
The Takeaway: Untag the pictures of yourself drinking to the brink of consciousness, add your work experience, and review your privacy settings. While Facebook has been used by countless people to gain employment, I personally know of several people being rejected solely based on their Facebook profile’s content. Similarly, for those of you employed, you may want to rethink your privacy settings as well.
