facebook as a Vetting Tool

This may come as a shock to some even though it should not, but many employers search social networking sites such as facebook as a vetting tool for prospective employees.  Students beware, because colleges and universities are now also getting in on the fray.  Most schools do not do this simply because they do not have the time.  Using facebook as a vetting tool tends be occur mostly in situations when there is heavy competition for a position or scholarship.  It can also be used to check out students who may be hired to represent a school in one manner or another such as a tour guide.  While some students have raised questions of ethics violations, there really is not any considering that the person freely made that information available in the first place.  For anyone concerned about privacy should do two things.  First, get to know the privacy features of facebook inside and out and make them as tight as possible while still allowing an acceptable level of interaction between you and your friends.  Second, as a rule of thumb, don’t post anything you would not want your grandmother to see.

Info drawn from http://www.infotoday.com/it/sep09/Greenwood.shtml

For any Indiana librarians who would like to find out more about social networking as a professional tool, consider attending the Fall meeting of the Indiana Online Users Group (IOLUG).  “Hot or Not: Managing Your Digital Identity” is set for November 13th, 2009 at the Plainfield Public Library.   Included in the program will be a breakout session on managing privacy setting as well as one by myself on how to add your digital identity to your library website, using LibGuides as an example.  To find out more, go to http://www.iolug.org/