NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm heading off to college in the fall, and I've heard many people tell me that you need to watch what you do online.

That's basic common sense to begin with, but how much more so is it for college students? I ask because I've heard some horror stories of people being denied coop jobs while in college and jobs once they graduate, due to a potential employer finding something "objectionable" online or on their Facebook/Livejournal/MySpace etc. Even things that shouldn't be any of their business, like political beliefs.

So, current college students: what's the deal? How "careful" do you have to be?

And FTR: I don't give away my name for anything that isn't "official", i.e. email, Xbox Live, etc. And I don't have a MySpace or a Livejournal...mostly because I don't care for that kind of thing.

I found it wasn't any different than usual.

It just seems that the facebook generation is finding out that putting your latest drinking binge on your myspace might not be the best idea. If you think something might reflect poorly on you, don't put it up for the world to see. Facebook, etc are fair game for many employers now as part of a background check.

The only personal information that you could find about me on the internet (there isn't much) isn't anywhere near anything that resembles my real name.

Plus, I have an exceptionally common last name.

If something bad comes up when you google your name then any potential employers will find out about it. Some will be more thorough than this, checking myspace and facebook.

The solution is to never use your real name. Ever. Anywhere.

I found it wasn't any different than usual.

It just seems that the facebook generation is finding out that putting your latest drinking binge on your myspace might not be the best idea. If you think something might reflect poorly on you, don't put it up for the world to see. Facebook, etc are fair game for many employers now as part of a background check.

Again, common sense, something that I'm good at.

*Grabs megaphone, begins reciting Lord of the Rings*

And I can understand Facebook and MySpace being in background checks. It should be expected: it's public.

Again, common sense, something that I'm good at.

Then you should be fine



*Grabs megaphone, begins reciting Lord of the Rings*

*Begins beating you with a copy of Wheel of Time* ;)


And I can understand Facebook and MySpace being in background checks. It should be expected: it's public.

And yet a lot of grads are getting up in arms when employers refuse to hire them because of what they found there. Yes, your personal life shouldn't get you fired, but it sure as hell can be a factor in whether or not you get hired

At Facebook, you can set it so businesses and schools can't see, which I would suggest. Though they will probably have student accounts.

Myspace can be set private, but I think can be viewed if people know your name and you have that set up.

At Facebook, you can set it so businesses and schools can't see, which I would suggest. Though they will probably have student accounts.

Myspace can be set private, but I think can be viewed if people know your name and you have that set up.

I don't really want to get either. I know alot of new students are going bonkers over it, but I really have no interest. If I want to talk to someone, I'll call them, email them, or *gasp* walk up and talk to them.

Plus, if companies do check facebook and myspace, why give them the ammo?

Meh, my facebook account isn't visible to anyone who doesn't go to my school and my myspace (which I never use) and livejournal accounts only have my first name.

If something bad comes up when you google your name then any potential employers will find out about it. Some will be more thorough than this, checking myspace and facebook.

The solution is to never use your real name. Ever. Anywhere.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/dreams.png

Image courtesy of XKCD (http://xkcd.com)

I've never come across an employer checking these things really, maybe its just people being paranoid and looking for an excuse when they don't get the job :confused:

though "what goes on in college stays in college" is a saying I've heard quite often so I personally wouldn't give a shit about college you

Yeah, how strict are colleges about pirating? Just askin'.

Yeah, how strict are colleges about pirating? Just askin'.

Depends on how willing they are to be bullied by the RIAA.

I know this has nothing to do with companies looking at your profiles online, but it's similar.

A lady that works with my mom has decided to search for all of her co-worker's children on MySpace, and then go to the parents and say "Did you know your kid.." ... What fucking nerve.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/dreams.png

Image courtesy of XKCD (http://xkcd.com)

As ever, XKCD is the source of all wisdom on the internet.

As ever, XKCD is the source of all wisdom on the internet.

Well, naturally.

Actually, have you read Alone (http://xkcd.com/c289.html)? That truly is indescribably awesome.

Anyway, [/offtopic].

...Okay.

The fact of the matter is, I've been going kind of bonkers. My mother and I spoke during a drive back to the hospital earlier today, and the way she worded it: "We've worked too hard and paid too much to see it all go down the drain, etc. etc.", she has driven me completely paranoid.

Ever since I've been looking into my past posts here, and worrying about the stories I've written for online publishers. I've even been Googling my name, using different keywords...and I've only found articles on how I made the honor roll or how I've made the rank of Eagle...

And the problem is: I KNOW I haven't done anything wrong. This is just how my mind works, and I hate it. Seriously: what employer (I'm going into nursing) is going to care what kind of fiction I wrote during the summer of 2007...

Dammit...I actually feel better getting this on the screen...

Anyway thanks.

And...please forego the "get a blog" nonsense, I'm, seriously, not in the mood (unless it is entirely in jest in which case use the ":D" or ":p" or ";)" smiles to indicate so).

*goes and eats a muhfuckin cookie*

...Okay.

The fact of the matter is, I've been going kind of bonkers. My mother and I spoke during a drive back to the hospital earlier today, and the way she worded it: "We've worked too hard and paid too much to see it all go down the drain, etc. etc.", she has driven me completely paranoid.

Ever since I've been looking into my past posts here, and worrying about the stories I've written for online publishers. I've even been Googling my name, using different keywords...and I've only found articles on how I made the honor roll or how I've made the rank of Eagle...

And the problem is: I KNOW I haven't done anything wrong. This is just how my mind works, and I hate it. Seriously: what employer (I'm going into nursing) is going to care what kind of fiction I wrote during the summer of 2007...

Dammit...I actually feel better getting this on the screen...

Anyway thanks.

And...please forego the "get a blog" nonsense, I'm, seriously, not in the mood (unless it is entirely in jest in which case use the ":D" or ":p" or ";)" smiles to indicate so).

*goes and eats a muhfuckin cookie*

Nothin' like a mom to make someone paranoid. Most of the people that are losing job opps because of their myspace are putting stuff like their drinking habits up. I remember a particularly shining example of stupidity where someone put their interests down as "drinking, staying out all night, drinking, chicks, drinking, and drinking" along with a full page of multiple pictures of the "lampshade on the head" variety. That's the kind of stuff that they look for as flags, not bits of your writing.

Oh, and get a blog :p

Nothin' like a mom to make someone paranoid. Most of the people that are losing job opps because of their myspace are putting stuff like their drinking habits up. I remember a particularly shining example of stupidity where someone put their interests down as "drinking, staying out all night, drinking, chicks, drinking, and drinking" along with a full page of multiple pictures of the "lampshade on the head" variety. That's the kind of stuff that they look for as flags, not bits of your writing.

Oh, and get a blog :p

Thanks.

*crushes can over head*

...What? It was Diet Coke...

The really problem is that you would actually work for a company that would dig up shit on the internet about it's job candidates.

I've never come across an employer checking these things really, maybe its just people being paranoid and looking for an excuse when they don't get the job :confused:

though "what goes on in college stays in college" is a saying I've heard quite often so I personally wouldn't give a shit about college you

Ah the joys of being naive.

Employers check. I mean...not McDonalds. Not Domino Pizza. But yeah, they check.

And some schools (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook#Criticisms) will discipline you for your reported exploits.

I have been warned repeatedly, as a Law student, to keep my Facebook profile squeaky clean. Warned by employers.

So no. What happens in college doesn't stay there. You start building your reputation NOW.

Meh, my facebook account isn't visible to anyone who doesn't go to my school and my myspace (which I never use) and livejournal accounts only have my first name.Don't feel cozy. Someone with just a little bit of computer savvy can find your profile, no matter your privacy settings. In fact, we've had a presentation recently where the presenter showed us how they were able to access DELETED accounts.

...we've had a presentation recently where the presenter showed us how they were able to access DELETED accounts.

...What grade did they get?

...What grade did they get?
Depends what the teacher had on his Facebook.