Fall 2006

Have you been Googled by a future employer?!

Jerry Donahue, director of career services

As you may be aware, social networking web sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, have become a common tool for students to keep in touch with each other.

Recently, Purdue University representatives conducted a student survey, which sought to determine the usage of social networking tools. The results indicated that a very high percentage of their students were using Facebook, and many didn’t realize that the content, i.e. pictures and text they put on the web, is open to anyone who has, or can find someone who has, a “dot edu” extension for their e-mail address.

In the case of career services offices, the viewing of current students’ material by potential employers was a concern. Unless students changed their settings to keep the content available only to their friends, employers could view it as well.

As a result of the survey, Purdue staff members developed a “job seeker self-audit” to help students better understand the potential for problems they might have with their personal internet presence.

The St. Norbert career staff was able to adapt this form, which we titled "Personal Internet Presence," and it can be found at www.snc.edu/career/students/jobsearch.html, for use by our students.

The audit includes not just social networking, but any electronic presence that employers may view or hear, including non-St. Norbert e-mail addresses, blogs or even voicemail messages.

A quick way to check a student’s profile is to Google the student. Students can take a look at what turns up and consider making any changes necessary to present an appropriate presence to the employers and the public.