Employers talk about the consequences of questionable Facebook posts
Published Dec. 9, 2008
There is always controversy surrounding addictions. Drugs and alcohol gradually decay our bodies, gambling puts us in the hole, and some addictions are downright unmentionable. However, Facebook, the compulsively-checked social networking tool has left us scratching our heads as to whether or not the addiction is a healthy one.
There were 132.1 million Facebook users as of June 2008 compared to MySpace, which attracted 117.6 million users, according to ComScore, a global Internet provider that measures consumer response to the digital world. The average Facebook user spends 19 minutes on the site a day, and as of 2007, Facebook received 40 billon hits a month.
As Facebook becomes increasingly mainstream, does the content of the profile reflect the shift? Is it appropriate for college-aged students to share silly pictures that could later be taken out of context and cost an individual their dream job or graduate school admission? Is Facebook hurting or helping college students as they enter the already competitive job market?
Common sense is the best strategy when it comes to Facebook, according to Becky Shost, the employer relations coordinator for the University of New Hampshire's advising center.
"You don't want to post anything that would make you look like a bad candidate," said Shost. "Employers are looking for reasons why they shouldn't hire you."
Shost went on to explain Facebook is now a real consideration when it comes to college-aged students entering the job market. Though there are privacy settings that limit access to the profile picture, having unflattering images on the Internet still poses a potential threat.
With theories of companies hiring hackers or creating decoy accounts to find evidence of unflattering behavior, the appeal in the social networking site can be quickly deflated.
Privacy settings give off the impression an individual has the ability to share specific information with specific people, but Facebook's privacy setting states they "share information with third parties only in limited circumstances." This is done only when the information sharing is reasonably necessary to offer the service, legally required, and permitted by the particular user, according to the website.
The networking site's privacy page also explains that though they do all they can in their power to protect user information, there's no guarantee.
"We cannot and do not guarantee that user content you post on the site will not be viewed by unauthorized persons," the Facebook privacy page states. "We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the site."
Maura Quinn, Liberty Mutual's university relations program manager, said when it comes to hiring interns or recent graduates for entry-level positions, Facebook isn't a factor.
"Facebook, as it stands, is a social networking place for people to play," said Quinn.
Quinn said UNH leads the way for the company's internship positions with 15 students last summer and more than 30 full-time graduates working in entry-level positions. Facebook didn't play a role in the hiring process but rather academic records and experience.
Both UNH's undergraduate and graduate admissions representatives said Facebook doesn't play any role in the admissions process, and like Liberty Mutual, academic records and life experience are what determines acceptances.
"We don't look at Facebook for graduate school because it's personal," said Laurie Witham from UNH's graduate admissions. "It's a touchy subject."
Witham also said other programs could potentially be looking into an applicant's Facebook profile.
However, of the top UNH employers, there wasn't a single recruiter who would go on the record as to whether or not they use Facebook in the hiring process. Instead, there remains a whisper that one unfavorable picture or wall post on Facebook could pose as a potential downfall, ruining everything a student works toward in their college studies. Not knowing the etiquette regarding whether or not it's appropriate to consider a candidate's social life when competing for a job remains a challenge for recruiters.
Another top company for recent UNH alumni is Enterprise and, according to regional recruiting manager Kimberly Smith, Facebook once again isn't part of the hiring process.
"Right now we see Facebook as personal, but I'm not sure if that'll be the case in the future," said Smith.
Smith said Facebook could be used as a recruiting tool for the company. They must simply set up pages for potential employees to ask questions.
UNH's Student Body President John Banks expressed concerns similar to Shost from UNH's advising center, recommending common sense as the best indicator when it comes to Facebook posts.
"I know that employers and others will check Facebook, MySpace, Google and any other Internet networking site to check on a perspective applicant," said Banks. "And why wouldn't they? I would imagine that pictures of people doing illegal things can have immense effect on someone's chances of employment."
Banks went on to explain he makes an effort to keep his profile clean, because the information could potentially be misconstrued. Though Banks likes Facebook and said it's a great networking tool, he did recall an incident where an RA was fired because a hall director found an alcohol-related picture in the newsfeed. Out of respect, Banks preferred to keep the RA's name anonymous.
Similar to the situation of the fired RA, Joanne Stella, UNH's student attorney, said the only involvement with Facebook she's encountered has to do with landlords discovering illegal behavior from tenants that threatened lease agreements.
"I advise people to be careful about what they put on there," said Stella.
Facebook was launched only four years ago in 2004 as a way for Harvard students to network. Within four months of the launch, Facebook popularity grew so exponentially that 30 colleges were added to the network.
Because the tone of Facebook was initially aimed at the college culture, students have had to adapt and censor the types of images they portray. As of fall 2006, anyone with a valid e-mail address was allowed to join, significantly changing the culture of Facebook.
Though there has been a shift in the way students portray themselves with pictures of public urination and inebriated vomiting, Jill Avallone, a senior at UNH, stood by the social networking tool saying it was beneficial in her study abroad experience because she was able to contact roommates beforehand.
This allowed Avallone to hit the ground running when she arrived in Italy. Though Facebook still plays an important role with keeping in touch with friends that Avallone met abroad, the social networking tool remains bittersweet.
"I think it is important to be conscious of what pictures you have on your Facebook page," said Avallone. "In a time when reputation is so important, why do people risk having pictures of themselves drooling over a toilet bowl? It's unattractive."