Social Networking and the Workplace

Social networking has exploded within the last decade.  Many can relate on feeling the need to constantly be up to date on whats happening with family and the friends we surround ourselves with.  I will be the first to admit that I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to this.  However, when it comes to job searching and relationships with others in a workplace, we need to watch what we say!!

The use of social networks in the workplace has been a controversial issue.  By now we as students have all heard the horror stories of how future potential employers will use fake names to either add you as a friend on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. in order to see what kind of a person you are.  On that same note, we have all been warned to be cautious about what we allow people to see on our own such social networking sites.  As college students, it is crucial that we think about what we are saying before we post a comment for hundreds, if not thousands of people will have the ability to see it.

When the opportunity presents itself and we are established within a career, the importance of keeping our negative thoughts to ourselves about our Superiors in the workplace in detrimental.  "Trashing" your boss is sure to have a negative affect on your career path.

Another major issue with social networking in the workplace pertains to relationships with other employees.  Intimate relationships within the company are often frowned upon, and rightfully so.  There are many negative examples of how such relationships complicate your job. 

If things go wrong withing these relationships, one of the worst things a person can do is make it a public affair.  By this I'm talking once again about using social networks to talk badly about the other person in the relationship.  A PRIME EXAMPLE of this can be found on CNN's website where a man has relationships with several employees within his office.  After things went wrong he felt the need to go public with them and chaos followed.  We would think that by now it's common sense to keep such issues to ourselves, or in the very least not on the internet for everyone to see.