Employers using the internet to research potential employees.

Many young people are on the internet a lot and have accounts with social networking sites like myspace and facebook. These online places can be used to publish pictures, video and text very easily.

Increasingly, these online sites, are being used to research a potential employee. They have also been used as the basis for terminating employment.

The key issue is that we all need to be careful about what we say and where we say it. This is not a new idea at all but it so much more important these days when we can say something that the whole world can hear on the internet. Once something is said, it can not be unsaid. Showing respect to others will keep us safe.

Our online profile can be very powerful and it is important that we learn how to harness this to our advantage. It could help us win a job, contract or even a funding grant.

What does this mean for parents and teachers?

What are some of the things we, as parents, might do to help our children harness this for their benefit?

References

• http://www.quagmiresolutions.com/content/press/?id=1156349158
• http://www.tsl.pomona.edu/index.php?article=1401
• http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/11/09/4552cd772c6fb
• http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/11/03/2047904.htm

IT Matters