Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

I've actually given this subject quite a bit of thought. To me, it's no big surprise that employers started using Facebook to vet potential employees. I can see how that would be beneficial, but I can also see it looking too invasive. "Indeed, Jeff Vijaunco, vice president of world-wide talent acquisition for Adobe Systems, Inc., said that in focus groups, prospective job candidates were sharply averse to being contacted though Facebook for jobs."(WSJ). I personally see no problem with a company looking at a potential employees Facebook page. I would be lying if I said that I've never scouted out a photography client before. What kind of person are they? Do they have the same interests as me? Are they professional? You can really tell a lot about a person from their social media. Good and bad. This is why I believe that if you put it online, you should be ready to face the consequences. 

Now, people will always argue that this is an invasion of their personal privacy. To that, I say: no one forced you to have a social media presence. The government does not control Facebook, and you took part in it willingly. Also, many people have "keyboard courage" and feel that social media is their personal soapbox, and will often say things that they would never in a million years say in an actual public setting. No one in normal society would announce their political, anti/pro religious, homophobic, raciest, etc. thoughts to the world. But since they are online and not in "real life", they say whatever comes to their mind. Believing there are no consequences. 

Now, to play devil's advocate: the ONLY time I can see a social media investigation infringing on someone's personal right to privacy is when a person is unknowingly photographed or videotaped and added to someone's social media page. Here is the scenario that comes to mind: an elementary school teacher is photographed drinking heavily and participating in drunken shenanigans at a bar, then tagged in the photo by someone else (or is recognized in the photo without any connection to his/her own social media page). That teacher is then fired for acting inappropriately. Sure, that teacher didn't deserve to ousted in that way, and they didn't ask for that to be made public. However, it happens. Often. So should your private life be considered separate from your profession life? If you aren't on the clock, should behavior like this be used against you?

Reference:

 "Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like." WSJ. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.

Week 4 EOC: The Cult of Apple

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

According to Armstrong & Kotler, a Millennials are, “The 83 million children of the baby boomers, born between 1977 and 2000.” Additionally, “One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology, it’s a way of life.” Although I may hate to admit it, I am a part of the millennial generation. I am totally comfortable with technology, however, I don’t know that I totally fit the description on a Millennial. I still know what it was like before we relied so heavily on computers. I remember the first cell phones, and I also know how to properly interact with other human beings (something I feel millennials are struggling with). Although this may be a stereotype, I strongly believe that this generation is entitled and don’t know what hard work really is. However, I am capable of critical thinking, and admit that every generation says that about the new generation. “Back in my day” is certainly not a new phrase. I just think we have taken it to the extreme as a species when a majority of 20-somethings can’t even make eye contact while having a conversation. 

There are great qualities within the Millennial demographic however. I think we are more intelligent and efficient with finding and using information than ever. Some people complain that Millennials are always on our phones, but guess what? We can tell you the score of your favorite sports team play-by-play. When I was kid, we would have to wait till the next day to read scores from away games. I think we are a more compassionate generation too. We are able to empathize with each other, and although we do may no live the way you do, we will respect you. We can see both sides to any argument, and make our own judgements. 

I really do think that as a generation, we have a lot to work on with our personal skills, but we also have a lot to offer the world (just a long as we have our Cell Phones and grocery stores so we don’t have to use any actual survival skills whatsoever). 

References:

Armstrong, Gary, and Philip Kotler. Marketing: An Introduction. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.