I believe you must always be aware of what you post on Facebook/twitter or any other self express websites. Social media has made it easier to express your feelings and thoughts for the world or your peers to see. These social media sites have also made it easier for people you don't know to get a glimpse of who you are. With this being said employers and recruiters are keeping an eye out on those who display great values on these sites, such as twitter/facebook.
I am a recruiter for Northwestern Mutual's internship program and anytime I get referred to someone who is interested I automatically look to see if they have facebook. Facebook has become a first impression guide for those who want to see what you’re like before face to face contact. When I first started my job at Northwestern Mutual we were in the process of interviewing a guy who was interested in the internship and an hour before the interview we decided to take a look at his Facebook profile. The guy had made rude comments about our company and taking the internship as a joke. We knew then and there that is guy was not taking the opportunity serious and acted totally different then in the interviews, we had with him. Needless to say we didn't ask him back for a third interview.
I think we all need to be aware that when we post things on facebook/twitter and other sites we are not only promoting ourselves but the things we are involved in as well. For example if I posted pictures of my co-workers and I having drinks at a party, I would not only be representing myself but the company I work for. Others would associate my actions with the company.
Great job relating the topic to your real- life scenario! It is hard to believe that you are representing a brand image at all times weather it be yourself while looking for a job, or the firm that you work for after you are hired. A lot of the times this gets overlooked because of the normality of having fun.
ReplyDeleteIf I went to lunch and saw my doctor or my accountant having a drink, I would feel completely unconfortable allowing my doctor to examine me or my accountant deal with my finances from that point on. Great job bringing up associating the employee with the business at all times.
That was a real interesting story that you mentioned about Northwestern Mutual checking the applicants profile. This example just goes to show that employers do this all the time. They want to see if you are hiding something from them, and if you live a separate life from the image you are trying to portray. You are definitely right that once you are employed, your actions represent the brand you work for and yourself. People should always want to represent their selves and their employer in a positive manner. People our age use facebook and twitter in a unprofessional way by posting inappropriate photos and comments. We really need to stop doing these things and represent ourselves in a positive way so we can better our future.
ReplyDeleteKasey - I had heard from Caroline that you were the Northwestern recruiter but I keep forgetting to talk to you about it. That's really neat that you have such an applicable example for what we're discussing. What people post on the web definitely shows a lot about who they are and what is important to them.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. I think it's safe to say that most of us are guilty of "facebook stalking", so why would we expect our employers to be any different? We think older generations (our potential bosses) are not as "in with it" and either have no idea what Facebook is or how to use it, but they're definitely catching on. I mean, my GRANDMA has a Facebook and uses it daily. With that being said, they will check you out before they meet you. First impressions are difficult to dispel, so it's important to make sure you have respect for yourself on your site and show your better side. The guy Northwestern Mutual didn't hire may have been a really great guy, but I'm sure Kasey and her coworkers will always associate him as "the guy with the trashy Facebook."
ReplyDeleteGood example of having drinks with employees. A professor I had last semester was talking to us about this topic, and told us how she saw some pictures of some people who work at her daughter's school out having drinks. She talked about how parents don't want to see the people they entrust with their kids out having drinks. It's just not professional.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about Facebook being a good way to get a first impression on someone is very true. I personally can't see why anyone would put something on Facebook that casts them in a negative light, but obviously many people do. I guess it's a good thing that you checked that guys facebook before the interview. Otherwise, you might have hired someone who truly didn't fit your organization.
ReplyDeleteKasey I think you bring up some great points, since you work for Northwestern mutual and you are looking to see if the people applying do have a facebook and you are checking to see what they have on their page and what they are involved in. It is so crazy to me to think out much information is out there on us without even knowing it, blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd there ya go, everybody is watching all the time so you have to watch what you say and always be professional. I personally think that it is great that comapnies look at facebook and i feel like it will better them by finding out the true character of their employees
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