Does having a page on a social networking site (ie. facebook, myspace) affect my job-hunt?

Question

Does having a page on a social networking site (ie. facebook, myspace) affect my job-hunt?

Answer 1

it can depending on what kind of pictures you have on it. I recently read an article where a prospective employer was going to have a meeting with a recent college grad who was applying for a position with the employers company. the prospective employer went onto the persons facebook site to see what the person looked like and found pictures of the person drinking and not behaving well and that caused the employer to deny the canidate the job.

Answer 2

Recruiters today do check social networking pages.  Unless you've got questionable photos and tons of profanity and generally unprofessional stuff going on in your profile, you should be fine.  Also doesn't hurt to adjust your privacy settings.

On the other hand, if your page conveys that you're a responsible, upstanding person, it may help your chances.

Answer 3

It depends on what you say in your page. It just gives employers more insight about you -- and whether they like what you say and show, of course. But having pages on these sites give employers more ammunition for or against you

Here are some articles on people losing their jobs or not getting the jobs they've applied for because of their social networking pages

MySpace Is Public Space When It Comes To Job Search http://www.collegegrad.com/press/myspace...

'Facebook' lost policeman top job  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/...

Job applicants' online musings get hard look http://www.boston.com/business/globe/art...

Answer 4

It can if your page is public and you have unsavory images or information published.