Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the other social media websites have supplanted the water cooler as the place to go when you need a break from your work day. I suppose for many in this increasingly virtual world having a chat with a cyber friend brings some meaning, if not a respite from the grind of work.

Yet, I am stunned at the time that my social network friends spend on these sites—they must be spending many hours everyday posting goofy photos, useless links, and smarmy comments about others. If only their bosses knew.

Actually, their bosses do know. Increasingly companies are monitoring the behavior of employees who post regularly on the social networks. Human Resources with the help from the guys in IT can data mine the social websites to find prospective employees. Additionally, they can function as a data source for background checks, so beware what you post. The world is watching.

I agree that the social networks provide business and monetary benefit to the individual. With that in mind, here are a few tips:

1. Be friendly but don’t be stupid. Be careful about who you allow in your network since friendship is about quality not quantity.
2. Keep your profile page simple. Try not to overload the page with goofy widgets, bells, and whistles.
3. Post tasteful photos only. Pictures of you and your friends in a drunken stupor from last weekend could prove to be hazardous to your career.
4. Avoid trashing your friends, classmates, and employers.
5. Use spell check and write in English. Text-speak is unbecoming to a professional.
6. Always respond to your friends requests and messages.

John Bradley Jackson
© Copyright 2009 All rights reserved.

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