Our 2006-07 student technology survey indicates that 90% of Wabash students use Facebook and 35% use MySpace. While these and similar social networks are great ways to keep up with friends and family, if you use these services you should keep in mind that information is often accessible to others, including potential employers.

Kyle Dunaway of the Schroeder Career Center touched on this topic in his "Résumé Tip of the Week" today. I’ve included his entire article below.

Kyle Dunaway — Have you ever thought about how MySpace or Facebook might affect you finding the job/internship opportunity of a lifetime?

Surprisingly enough, a number of employers have moved toward doing internet research on the candidates they interview for possible employment–finding all kinds of background information on potential candidates that might sway their decision one way or the other. Foul language, inappropriate photo images and any other misrepresentations of character are things employers look for when "digging for dirt" on their interviewees. Remember, the image you portray on such websites can be easily accessible to just about anyone on the internet, and although great for keeping in touch with friends/relatives, MySpace and Facebook can be detrimental to your professional careers if precautionary measures are not taken.

If you are looking for employment opportunities, please keep the following in mind as it relates to your MySpace/Facebook profiles:

  • Adjust your personal settings so that your profiles are set to "private" (and can only be viewed by select individuals)
  • Remove all graphic materials that might sway employers away from you as a viable candidate
  • Encourage your "friends" to do that same, as employers could reference your friends’ profiles to find background information on YOU

Along those same lines, be aware of your voicemail messages connected to phone numbers you reference in your résumé. While a funny message may be appropriate for your friends and/or family, having an employer review such messages might give them the wrong impression–always listen to such messages as if you were a potential employer before making it your default message.