Networking on the Net: Beneficial or Detrimental?

Thanks to technology, employers can now search for your stats with a click of a mouse, and you have no way to control it unless you choose to avoid the social craze. Many of us have a social life outside of work; unfortunately, the line that is drawn between colleague work association and after hours has a tendency to become blurry through technology.

So you've signed up and have been on MySpace for years. Your site is catered for your eyes and the eyes of the people closest to you. Pictures and personal information from you is freely disclosed to your "buddies" or "friends" in the network, but what if your boss finds out your screen name? Well, to tell you the truth, instead of reprimanding you, he or she will probably want to add you if he or she is on the site as well. Then, soon enough, the whole office knows that you're on vacation in [insert location], including possible dates, times, and even an itinerary, depending on how much you disclose in an "online bulletin" or "comment" you post.


Although it is great to network and build close bonds with associates and coworkers, the formed bond needs to be kept to a level that you are comfortable with. There are those with whom you would gladly socialize and others not so much. Sadly, you can keep your profile private for only some time, at least until it becomes a known fact that you have a profile, and then it's all over.

Don't panic quite yet, though. It's just time to spruce up your site a bit and make it a bit more work appropriate. I know — not the most fun, but it has to be done to keep your professional reputation intact.

Yes, a level of freedom now has been taken away, but there's only so much you can do to avoid that friend request. After the third week, suspicion can arise. Especially if you just got a new job, make sure to revise the personal information on your site to be at a minimum.

Later on you can add more things back to your site, but for now keep it simple, and don't give your firm any cause for concern, thanks to that picture of you at your old work function punch drunk. It does inhibit your freedoms to some degree, but it's the new age of technology, and you must realize this information is available to the public.

Another thing to remember is to let your close friends know that you are refraining from posting anything too personal. Suggestive pictures and phrases are things you will have to refrain from for the time being.

Don't fret too much; you will hopefully become used to the idea of work and social hour crossovers. They happen occasionally, and it may be weird at first, but eventually it becomes a matter of balancing the two aspects of your life.

Hopefully, you will learn from the mistakes of those who post bulletins announcing they're playing hooky from work or wanting to change jobs. There is such a thing as giving out too much information. Just be honest to who you are and to your future; I'm not saying to censor your actions completely, but to perhaps be more conscientious of what's appropriate for your career.