Online Tools: How To Reap The Benefits And Avoid The Problems
by Kristen Dowling

The world of technology today is certainly filled with a number of tools that can assist us along our varied career paths. We can network online, find job postings, share ideas and resources...the list goes on. With all the perks of the Internet, there are also many dangers. The following is an overview of some of the benefits and problems that can arise from a few popular online sites.

BLOGS

Blogs - personal/professional journals posted on web sites - have quickly become a popular venue for personal expression. People can use their blogs as a quick and easy forum for sharing their thoughts, ideas, insights, and opinions. Especially for those in business, blogs can be an excellent tool for increasing clients, networks, and revenue.  According to Jeff Wuorio at Microsoft, blogs are an excellent venue to get exposure for a new idea or product. As well, he believes that "blogging can also prove an implicitly effective marketing tool to establish yourself as an authority in your field".

Warning - Such sites, also have the potential to cause problems. For example, numerous cases have appeared in the news recently about bloggers who were fired because of the material they post online. More specifically, problems arose because the material involved negative content about the worksite and/or fellows coworkers. Therefore, it is especially important for students to be aware of such blogging 'hazards', and maintain professionalism at all times. Information posted can be accessed by anyone, including employers and fellow employees. Although it may seem tempting to vent frustrations online, it may be worth a second thought to a return to old fashioned diaries or the ear of a good friend for this. Another important note to keep in mind, employers are finding concern with employees publicizing office protocol and/or procedures. Students need to be aware that information they post can be considered confidential to the workplace, and they can be held accountable for any breaches.

SOCIAL CONTACT VENUES

MySpace - MySpace is another venue that is becoming popular for sharing ideas, thoughts, and pictures. It is an online community for friends to stay connected, people to share interests, and for professionals to network. It's as easy as creating a profile, posting pictures, and adding friends. After set-up, members gain access to view other profiles and start creating new contacts. As well, MySpace includes a blog component and various other forums to connect to. As with the potential problems mentioned above, MySpace pages are often accessible by the general public. In fact, recruiters have become much more techno-savvy, and many are actively recruiting through online pages, such as MySpace.

Warning - Questionable material posted here also has the potential to cause problems. Not only can airing unprofessional material hurt your current employment, but it can also affect future possibilities. If a hiring employer wants to find out more information about you...could they? Would they like what they find? Remember, inappropriate material  posted online may not be interpreted as cute or humorous by potential supervisors or online recruiters...and could greatly affect your professional image and future possibilities.

Facebook - Facebook is a social networking site aimed at individuals who wish to keep in touch with friends. Individuals can use this site to upload an unlimited amount of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about what others are up to. The popularity of this Internet site is quickly growing, as it allows you to join networks with the people who, live, work, or study around you.

Warning - Similar problems to the ones mentioned above can occur. Inappropriate content could be accessed by others, and could have negative consequences. However, it should be noted that Facebook does have security settings, which users can change to control who has access to their page. Nonetheless, discretion should always be used to avoid any potential professional problems. And remember, using these websites during working hours can also create a number of problems. Reports of individuals being fired for spending valuable work time on Facebook or MySpace have become more and more common.

LINKEDIN

LinkedIn is a website that provides online networking to more than 12 million experienced professionals worldwide. New members create profiles that summarize professional details, work history, and accomplishments, allowing you to connect to former colleagues, clients, and new likeminded contacts. >From here, your network grows from your connections, to your connections' connections, and so on. Using these connections, the website can help you to be found for business opportunities, search for jobs, locate and correspond with recruiters, and acquire inside connections in a variety of industries.

Last points to Remember...    

1. Information posted on the web is PUBLIC not private, and discretion needs to be used when posting any information.    
2. Current and potential employers have the same ability as everyone else to use the World Wide Web tools to learn more about their employees.
3. Recruiters have now become very tech-savvy, and are actively recruiting through online pages.         
4. Online tools mentioned above should only be used OUTSIDE of working hours.
5. Good professional judgment is needed at all times when posting material to be shared online.