The Lead

I do have one concern about social networks, and that is that many fine people who either are entering our industry or have been in it for a few years are creating a digital profile of themselves that their employers or prospective employers will see – and they won’t be happy.

Here’s a Facebook excerpt from a recent communications graduate’s profile:

Interests: …dancing around in my underwear and singing at the top of my lungs in an attempt to make [name deleted] laugh her ass off, quesadillas, facebook fantasies, drunken debauchery on the Apple River (I seriously doubt that topless keg stands and making out with [name deleted] was involved in this scenario)….

I’m not passing judgment on this person – casting the first stone would be hypocritical. Many fine party animals have gone on to greatness in this industry. But prior to social networking, employers have never had such a clear window into a prospect’s life. Now, people are unwittingly leaving a digital and permanent trail of their lives online.

BTW, you'll find that I have a profile on Facebook, but if you're going there looking for tales or photos of my college years, forget it. They don't exist (as far as you know).