The Challenge of Social Networks in Business

I read an article recently about how the use of social networks is really starting to impact people’s professional lives. There’s the challenge of your boss or employer in general being on the same network you are, whether it be twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or a host of others. Most large companies are using online services to monitor and watch what’s being said about them and their brand. Most of us should assume that there are people listening, regardless of whether we think they care of not.

Spending time in the recruiting business and as a manage for other offices, reviewing applications and doing a quick name search for applicants online was just something I did. I was amazed at what I found sometimes, and more amazed at the stories I’ve read.

I know someone who was looking for a job and shortly after the interview wrote on his blog and called the person that interviewed him an “idiot” and doesn’t know if he could ever work for that company. They were so “screwed” up he wasn’t sure if he could really turn them around and fix anything.

I can tell you right now. If he’d interviewed with me, there’s not a chance he would have gotten the job and you can believe I would have let my own network know about my experience as well.

There’s a balance between being “transparent”, the buzz word of choice for social media, and maintaining a healthy inner dialogue as the article stated.

Image: sxc.hu