A lot of the class participants have mentioned that they struggle to cope with the amount of information and the sheer scope of tools that Web 2.0 and social networking offers.
Reading this article makes me wonder if it is at all a viable and valid use of our time to set up, and indeed go through, multiple networks as we traverse the web in search of human resources.
I've heard employers often look up prospective employees' facebook accounts to check what they've been up to. I have no idea whether this is true or not. Yet, how far do we stretch the HR department's resources?
Should we only stick to professional networks like LinkedIn?
Should we stick only to our rolodexes?
I see the usefulness and importance of being able to connect with someone at a distance.
A rolodex may not be as useful for non-local contacts; or perhaps, the rolodex will only include contacts for people you've actually met, closing down the chances of you finding someone equally qualified, only because you've never met them.
What do you think?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Is it really worth the effort?
Posted by
Phoebus
at
10:54 PM
Labels: networking
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4 comments:
Hey AJ,
Here's my take on it. I think Web 2.0 is like anything in life. You can't know everything that is going on out there, but you might know a little bit about something. With Web 2.0, there are new tools being added all the time. I think people will eventually use what works for them and sometimes that may mean using none of the tools.
Yes, prospective employees do look up all sorts of information! :)
I have a LinkedIn account, but I've never used it to contact someone about a job. I rarely use it (or update it), but it's nice to see what a lot of my friends or former colleagues are up to now.
-Yvonne
Not so very long ago, I received notice that we had a new (junior) person reporting to the unit. As part of my duties (I was in charge of personnel matters), I pulled up this person's information in our internal databases. I learned the usual information: age, marital status, place of birth, assignment history, physical traits, emergency contacts, etc. All of this is necessary to make sure we are prepared to receive new personnel with the appropriate sizes of equipment and can begin helping with finding a place to live, etc.
What was interesting was that the unit commander plugged this individual's name into Google and got a link to their MySpace page. So we checked it out.
Interestingly, we found photos and other information that indicated this person was socially drinking when not yet 21, and also had some off duty photographs that could reflect negatively on the service - especially when the page cited the Coast Guard as the employer.
When this individual arrived, we had the standard interview in which we also brought up the MySpace info. You should have seen the expression! Needless to say, merely mentioning the issue resolved it. This individual has gone on to be a good performer.
I know some teens who got indignant about people passing along their personal information. It was pointed out that if you post it on the web it becomes public information.
Rather than be worried or shocked about what is out there, I think it is more productive to understand the nature of the web and act accordingly. Incidentally, that is why I was so generic in my example. I was still able to convey the story without revealing any personal information. Even so, my intent in telling the story was not to entertain, but to inform within the context of our class. I think that is an important aspect of how we view and handle the information out there.
That's an interesting anecdote. It is good that the person involved cleaned up their act when addressed, and also that the CG was tolerant enough to be proactive, rather than reactive.
However, if one were to be cheeky, one could amend Gina's rule to say: If you don't want your mama or Uncle Sam to see it, don't put it online ;)
I use a google search for any potential employee I interview. Why not? I just told my 16 year old niece tonight that she needs to not put anything on her myspace that she wouldn't want her Mom to see!
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