The do's and dont's of social networking
How to protect your reputation online and at work
BY JANELL HOWELL
STAFF WRITER
JLHS47O@PSU.EDU
Social networking is truly the
wave of the future. With the
onset of MySpace, Facebook,
and Linkedln (to name a few),
social networking has further
transformed into a powerful and
playful way to tap into people
all over the world.
For textbook's sake, social
networking can be described
as a large network composed
of individuals who share a
common bond or vision think
college students, professionals,
etc. As with any new trend,
there are always unspoken rules
and customs to follow, and for
those who choose to break those
set of laws, ultimately face
rejection (and quite possibly
embarrassment) from the social
scene. Here are a few things
to keep in mind when building
personal and professional
facebook
FIRST PLACE
"Painted Track" by John Chmilarski
relationships via the Internet,
One, do not post any
compromising pictures or use
inappropriate language. There
are an increasing number of
employers investigating sites
such as MySpace and Facebook
to evaluate the character and
integrity of future interns and
prospective employees. If there
is something personal you wish
to share, (I'm talking poetry
or a blog, folks), do learn all
the features of the site in order
to permanently or temporarily
block any prying eyes.
Do not stalk anyone online. If
you are not invited into anyone's
network, do not "stake out" their
page or obsess about what they
are doing. While that cute guy
in English class has his online
status set to "having a night out
on the town", you've stocked up
on potato chips and Starbucks
waiting to see what he posts
next. Not cool. Do seek out
those who know you, appreciate
your company and value your
companionship.
If not, just keep it
moving. There are
too many clubs and
organizations to get
involved with than to
worry about someone
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"accepting" you as a friend or
colleague. Whatever you do,
just be sure to change your
status from stalker; stalking is
not attractive and just downright
creepy.
Do not inflate your resume.
This advice is for all the
Linkedln users trying to show
off credentials they don't have.
Yes, there are some people who
have accomplished quite a bit,
but
It might look a bit suspicious
if you're a 20-something year
old who is a CEO of a Fortune
500 company, and completed
law school at the age of 9. If
you do not have an extensive
resume, do emphasize your
volunteerism, course work
and career goals. Also, it does
not hurt to ask for a couple
recommendations (from trusted
peers, employers or professors)
to boost your credibility and
networking confidence. Do
NOT assume they will give you
permission to use their name
for recommendations, so ask
Nov. 19 2008
beforehand.
Do not add just anyone to your
network. It looks pretentious
and desperate. The purpose of
social networking is to connect
with those who share your
interests and visions not just
anyone in your zip code. Do
a process of elimination and
evaluation.
Most importantly, remember
that while social networking is
fun and invigorating, nothing will
HOLIDAY TRAVEL
Continued from page 10
seat you paid for.
Road trips are a little less
stressful, minus the security, but
you need to make sure you have
a few extra items. Make sure you
have an emergency kit, a car cell
phone charger, extra blankets,
extra snacks, and the number to
your nearest AAA dealership,
or road side assistance. Being
prepared will not only make for
a safer trip, but a smarter trip. If
you are an AAA member, they
will map out your route of driving
with an easy to read journal. This
RUNNER UP
"Boothbay Harbor" by Robert Hoffer
replace face to face interaction.
Get out there and meet people!
Surf on over to meetups.com and
sign up for a book club, music
appreciation club, scrapbooking
something! Find a mentor at
a local organization or even
on campus! As human beings
we crave communication and
contact with others; do not let
the innovations of media stop
you from publicly interacting,
building bonds and truly living.
journal map will make sure you
are taking the most fuel efficient
route and still make it in time
for the family gathering. If not a
member, purchase an area map
of where you are headed and be
aware of the heavy traffic areas.
Other holiday travel, via trains,
subways, or public transportation,
just make sure you have the right
schedule of departure and arrival,
and are prepared with photo
ID in case the weather does not
cooperation and you need to board
a second form of transportation.
I hope these little tips help to
make the season bright. Happy
Traveling!