Phan+T.+blog+post+analysis

Phan T.

TO: Proximity Social Networking Team FROM: Truc Phan SUBJECT: //Dailyillini.com// on Digital First Impression DATE: January 31, 2010

We were asked to analyze a blog post to help prepare questions for Proximity’s focus group session. The blog I analyzed is from //Dailyillini.com// and it is about how social networking sites can affect one’s job hunt. I want to ask Towson University students if they know how employers use social networking sites and if it affects the way they use such sites.


 * How social networking sites can affect job hunt**

Kristin Shaulis, from //DailyIllini.com,// observes that many companies are screening their applicants through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, although she does not know the specific companies that are using this process. According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com, out of 2600 hiring managers, 45 percent use social networking sites to screen applicants. Many managers look at status updates and pictures to make a first impression judgment on the kind of person the applicant is. On the CareerBulder.com survey, 53 percent of the hiring managers rejected candidates due to inappropriate photographs or status comments.

Shaulis suggests that users should be more prudent with the kind of information that is released and published on their sites. There are also many alternatives to social networking sites such as Linkedln, which is a networking site similar to an online resume and provides a way to professionally attract recruiters.


 * The importance of discretion on social networking sites**

The two important points of this article are:


 * **Wrong first imp****ression:** People need to be more careful with what they publish on their social networking sites. Inappropriate pictures and status updates can give a potential employer the wrong first impression. A bad first impression can prevent the applicant from getting the job or even an interview.
 * **Other professional alternative:** There are many other social networking sites that are geared toward professionals and businesses. These websites provide an online resume like service so that personal and business related information are separated.


 * Questions for focus group**

Knowing that companies screen applicants through their social networking sites, I want to ask whether or not this will affect how TU students manage their sites.


 * Are you going to be more prudent with what you publish on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites?
 * Do you use your current social networking site to attract employers?
 * Do you use professional sites? If not, would you use it in the future?
 * Does it matter whether or not employers are looking at your social networking site?
 * If you were an employer/hiring manager, how would you rate most of your friends, on your social networking sites, as potential employees?

__Reference__

Shaulis, K. ( January 31, 2010) Digital first impressions: How social networking sites can affect your job hunt. //Daily Illini.com.// Accessed January 31, 2010, from []