If you, like 800 million others, have a Facebook profile, then you know that you can use the site for anything from building your career to finding the next local hot spot. But if you are a job seeker, there should be a distinct line drawn between your professional and your social networking connections.
If you are using Facebook for social networking, be sure you are aware of the amount and type of information you are sharing. While you feel you may be \”expressing your inner self\”, your future employer may not be as appreciative of those ill-mannered status updates or pictures of your weekend in Vegas, even if they seem harmless to you.
Many young professionals are now using Facebook to show a different, more mature side of themselves. If you want to expand your profile to include potential employers and colleagues, take a close look at your profile and decide what you want to keep as business contact and what you want to keep as social contacts. Learn how to use Facebook Groups and the privacy settings they offer. Create a clean, simple profile with minimal photos or \”likes\”. Use the Facebook email or chat options to building relationships with friends rather than posting directly to profile pages. And lastly, choose your Facebook friends wisely.
Just remember, anything that goes on the web can be printed, saved, and distributed later. Words of wisdom: If you\’re using Facebook as an electronic diary, be prepared to have the whole world look at your diary at anytime, anywhere, now or in the future.
