Facebook Paradox Revisited
As frequent visitors to the blog may have guessed, there has been some inter-generational chit chat at ERA about what is appropriate for Facebook postings. As I have somehow managed to survive to age 40 in spite of a seriously misspent youth, I fall somewhere between the portion of the office who remember the impact of the first fax machines and those who can type out a Shakespeare sonnet in under 5 minutes using just their thumbs, I find myself in a slightly unique position of coming down a little on both sides of the fence.
On the one hand, I think that the “kids” (sorry, Pat and Katie) have this bizarre notion that anything they did prior to entering the work environment should not be held against them. What’s most interesting to note is that when they discuss this problem, there is a sense of ownership of Facebook. Sort of “What are these old people doing in our Facebook?” I think itís worth noting for the record that Facebook is open to everyone. Leaving photos of yourself from that one horrific frat party on a public Facebook profile, particularly when you put that profile on your resume, is no smarter than showing up drunk to a job interview. My point being, there is an expectation that you should know how the world works at your age and if you want to get ahead in a world that puts a value on appearances, then you need to take ownership and manage your image. In my book, itís probably not the inappropriate photos that are going to get someone into trouble, but the fact that they were stupid enough to not set their profile to private.
On the other hand, to the older folks (and if you think I’m going to name names for that group, think again), I have to go back to my favorite line from Stripes: “Lighten up Francis.” I “came of age” just after we discovered that sex really could kill you and, to paraphrase Bill Cosby: cocaine is a personality enhancer, but what happens if you’re an a**hole? So it’s ironic that the generation that reveled in wanton sex, drugs, Rock ní Roll (or worse, disco), and junk bonds not to mention some really questionable fashion statements in their 20’s should be so concerned about a few pictures of college juniors having way too much fun at Mardi Gras.
In short: If you are applying for a job and you are foolhardy enough to put your Facebook profile on your resume, don’t be surprised if the picture of you and the goats at your buddyís bachelor party become the deciding factor between you and an equally qualified candidate. If you’re on the hiring end and you canít ignore Facebook, just remember that testing boundaries is one of the things that makes this country great. If that doesn’t work, think about the stupidest thing you’ve done in your life (if you can remember it) and ask yourself this question: Is THAT the event that defines who you are, or is it the other 99.999 percent of your life?
Peter Howson is ERA’s director or marketing.
Tags: Electronic Retailer, ERA, facebook, lighten up francis, peter howson, the stripes