In an attempts to be accessible to all demographics, Facebook has created a page type, which people can use to advertise themselves in a more professional manner. Creating a Facebook page is one way to amp up your online professional persona. A professional Facebook page can work as an online résumé, which can come up when your name is searched.
As you know from my last blog I am a UofA student, and I still have one more year until I enter the working world, so creating a professional Facebook page now is a great way to get my name out there to start networking. Even if you are still a year or more away from graduating with a degree, networking is important. Networking allows a person to get their name out their for job referrals or research opportunities. A Facebook page is a nice way to put a personal résumé online and make it more readily available. An added bonus about using a Facebook page is that it is free self-advertisement. I have learned from Rheon Fisher, ALES204 Lab H6, that not only is Facebook a good way to get your résumé out there, but it is also a good way to find a job. She made me aware that some companies post their hiring status on their Facebook business page.
Even if you are already getting interviews, having an online résumé is key because employers will goggle your name and see what comes up before or after your interview. In addition, this article 'So Wasted Last Night': On Facebook and Professionalism, by Nona Willis Aronowitz, states that Facebook is not just a personal social network, especially when you have coworkers added as friends on your page. People should be aware of this, because censoring what you are putting online is important. In addition portraying yourself in a respectable light is critical to being professional. This does not mean lying about what you have done or what you are interested in, but it means being honest about your accomplishments and goals. A good accessible résumé and reference could make the difference between getting your dream job or being the runner up. Here is an article, by Judi Sohn, that gives people 12 Ways to Use Facebook Professionally; one suggestion was for people to join groups that are related to their business of interest, also being selective about who people they add as friends. I think when making a professional page or even when adding images or comments to Facebook in general people have to ask themselves 'What would my parents or grandparents say if they saw this?'. If you think they would be offended by the words or images then I think it is safe to say those details about your life should stay offline.
In closing, using online social media can be to your advantage if you use it properly, and it could be beneficial to your future employment or career if done properly. Check out my page, Becky's Résumé Facebook Page, to see how I made my viral résumé, with a Facebook page.
Figure 1. Image of Becky Anne Anholt's Facebook Page on Flickr.
References
Fig. 1. ALES204. (2012). bbohlender. [digital image]. Retrieved January 27, 2012. From Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75305779@N06/6770922165/
Hey Becky! I just checked out the article you posted a link to called "'So Wasted Last Night': On Facebook and Professionalism," and I couldn't agree more! The article provided a hilarious but so very truthful perspective of the dangers of Facebook. People who don't realize how to set their privacy settings on Facebook by allowing others to see their alcohol-induced weekend fun may be risking their chances of getting hired. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBecky, I love that you were able to emphasize the importance of professionalism that needs to come with something as simple as a Facebook account. I think many people need to start thinking about their professionalism on Facebook just because of how many future employers could be seeing their page. This is definitely something the is good to think about so thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Becky. You are absolutely correct in regards to watching what one person puts up online. If you are going to post a resume or CV up on Facebook for potential employers to see, you'd better keep an eye out for any material on that website that may not portray you in the way you'd like. Ensure that privacy settings are set so only friends can access photos or any other possible forms of discriminatory material, and be careful when adding co-workers as friends on Facebook. I like the "thinking what others may think of this" approach as well. If you don't think it's professional, chances are that others won't as well!
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