Effect of Social Media on Young Professionals

1. Effect of Social Media on Young Professionals Michael Chott, Anna Hereth, Se Young Kang, Kayla Olszewski, Chris Simmons

2. Size • According to Facebook’s own statistics page, over 800 million people actively use the website • 50% of active users log on to their profile any given day

3. United States • An August 2010 study found 41.6% of Americans have a Facebook account (Wortham) • Some surveys of companies have indicated 90% either currently use or plan to use social media in recruiting employees(Adams)

4. Employers give a lot of weight to what can be found online • The majority of employers said they had not offered a candidate a job based on social media content (Wortham)

5. According to a 2008 survey, 8 percent of U.S. companies admit to dismissing employees because of Facebook behavior (Yin). • A 2010 survey released by Microsoft Research revealed that 70% of recruiters said they rejected applicants based on information found online (Hill)

6. Dawnmarie Souza • Fired from her job as a union worker at the American Medical Response (AMR) • Allegedly posted Facebook “rant” about her boss after an argument

7. 25% of Facebook profiles belong to those age 25 to 34 • 75% of the 25-34 year old population has a Facebook profile (Wells) • Young professionals who are job searching are the ones most likely to have a profile

8. Why should employers be allowed to check Facebook? • You should be responsible enough to monitor what you put on Facebook • “The reality if that if you put it on the web, you have lost control of who reads it” –Kay Stout, Career Advisor for Oklahoma Professional Search

9. Some people create separate profiles or profiles that are meant only for professional uses • Many people change their name to their first and middle name, or change their last name somehow in an effort to make their profile more hidden

10. Why employers should not be allowed to check Facebook • Even if you monitor your Facebook obsessively, you can’t control everyone • If someone posts something and you delete it from your wall, it never truly goes away • Even a profile meant to be strictly professional isn’t always perfect

11. Not everything on a Facebook profile is a negative reflection of the person • “Web Profiles are not resumes” (Fish)

12. Dawnmarie Souza • National Labor Relations Bureau and Souza sued AMR for wrongful termination in December 2010 • In February 2011, a settlement agreement was reached • Wrote on personal computer, at home, on her own time

13. Employers should not be allowed to use Facebook as their only grounds for making such an important decision • There is always bias from the person reading the profile

14. Blogging – What is it? • Create articles/posts on online websites • Specific area of interest • Create interesting/useful content • Get readers to read and subscribe

15. The positives • Show that you are interested in your field • Knowledgeable • Effective communicator • People care about what you have to say

16. The negatives • Certain areas can cause possible employers to view you in a negative light • Politics • Privacy issues with companies you work for • Delta Airlines • Wells Fargo

17. Overall • Depending on content blogging can be a very good thing • Improve chances for employment • Detrimental to your career depending on content

18. Twitter • Microblogging Site • Over 41 million users • 140 Characters • Real time • Uploaded via internet, phone, email • Nothing is deleted completely

19. PEW Research Center

21. Twitter Infamy

22. Twitter • Be aware of followers • Professional 24/7 • Privacy settings updated

23. LinkedIn • Social Networking Site • Business purpose, professional networking rather than personal relationship(eg. Facebook) • Self-presentation with professional profile • Over 120million users • CEOs and recruiters of the major companies are LinkedIn members

24. Networking internationally and globally • Encouraging discovery of outstanding individuals overseas • Being able to organize and present oneself in a professional way online • Taking advantages by posting conferences or articles that are related to their fields.

25. More competitive in finding employment • Limited access to all members

26. How can YouTube be Beneficial? • Video resumes or curriculum vitaes • Videos of lectures • Shows employers more about you than a piece of paper would • Differentiates yourself from competitors because this is relatively new

27. Example Video Resume • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2RlnDqI-JQ&feature=related

28. How can YouTube be Detrimental? • Non-professional videos can become viral or available to employers • Bad lectures or presentations available to employers

29. Starbucks Employee Fired over YouTube • http://www.kirotv.com/video/29273280/index.html

30. Using YouTube effectively • Do not make YouTube videos that can be detrimental • Bashing your current job • Using profane language • Dressing inappropriately • Be careful when making a video resume—make sure it is appropriate and there are not any mistakes

31. Conclusion • Once something is on the internet it cannot be deleted. • If an employer reads it they may be able to fire you over it. • Affect application process for job. • Personal responsibility to maintain professional online identity.