<p>I wouldn't see a problem with sending this person a polite email thanking him for his offer of facebooking you, but saying that you use your account for personal-- not professional-- communication. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that you place a firm boundary between those two things. </p>
<p>Or, as others have said, give him limited access. But this request is out of bounds, in my opinion.</p>
<p>My D has coaches, TAs and other somewhat responsible adults add her on facebook, she always goes with the limited, because though she does not post anything questionable, you cannot control your "friends" drunken ramblings and crazy photos post to you!! D feels it would not be positive to deny a TA or coach, as to a job interview, that is rather odd and perhaps the reply that is personal not business would be okay or even impressive as standing up for yourself?</p>
<p>I agree with somemom. Other people can post messages to you on your site and you cannot control what they say. A Facebook page is intended for your personal friends to view, not your teachers or employers, even if there is nothing objectionable on it. The OP should either decline the request (saying it is not for professional use) or give very limited access, as others have said.</p>
<p>Can't you delete a "bad" posting? My Ds have. And my D is very careful what is on her page.</p>
<p>You should be anyway, and if you are underage, why have pictures of yourself with beers? What does that prove? You decide your pictures and common sense would say, gee, maybe showing me doing something potentially illegal is not so smart.</p>
<p>And lastly, no matter how private you think your page is, you must assume that anyone can see it, you know, over the shoulder, etc.</p>
<p>I don't understand the need to take chances just so you can show off how cool you think you are.</p>
<p>I find the situation creepy, big brotherish, and none of the intern coordinator's business.</p>
<p>EEH, you have good instincts.</p>
<p>Users beware! Not long ago, a major SEC university told athletes to close or clean up their accounts or stand to lose their scholarships and/or position on team. Seems some 'concerned' folks (maybe even someone wanting their starting spot) were copying and pasting, or in the case of facebook, emailing (forward) any pics they wanted to to their coaches and other interested parties! Seems coach, the AD, and local boosters, were less than thrilled to see some of the starting football team partying like rock stars during the season. Especially since they were underage.</p>
<p>I think everyone should assume that grandma, your professors, parents and pastor could potentially see ANYTHING on the web concerning you.</p>
<p>I am the mom of a HS student, college student and recent graduate and I have my own Facebook account which I got as something of a joke after a friend invited me. One of my kids has added me as a friend with limited access. Since then several of her friends have also added me (I think they think it's funny). My absolute advice would be to write a friendly note, as others have suggested, saying that you use Facebook only for family and personal correspondence. Offer the person your personal email address as an alternative for communication. My kid's profile has nothing remotely shocking or incriminating but it is very informal and funny and includes family photos and personal information. While it wouldn't get her in any kind of trouble, it would be totally inappropriate for an employer to ask to see it.</p>
<p>Thanks for raising this timely topic!</p>
<p>My son recently applied for and was granted an internship. The final interviewer told him they had researched him online and on Facebook and hadn't found anything "too bad". S was irritated at the invasion of privacy (so I guess I'd give at least some credit to the OP's intern coordinator for asking first--S doesn't even know how his intern coordinator accessed his site), and was annoyed at that comment because he knows there is absolutely nothing at all "bad" about him anywhere on it. So to what was the man referring, or was the comment merely an example of the way some power-oriented people communicate, that is, even if he had found nothing he wouldn't have communicated unconditional approval because that would tip the balance of power a tad?</p>
<p>Also, one does wonder how seemingly benign info. would prejudice a potential employer. Let's say, for example, you post a picture of your pet dog, which happens to be a pit bull. He's a sweet dog who has never harmed a soul and never would (what many pit bull owners believe with all their hearts to the dismay of the rest of us), but the employer believes pit bulls are evil beasts, trained to maim and kill, and are usually owned by thugs. Then what?</p>
<p>So I'd also worry that something I'd view as innocent or innocuous may not be viewed that way by an prospective employer and could negatively impact a job application.</p>
<p>I agree that the OP should grant only limited access to the recruiter (if any).</p>
<p>However, I don't see that a student should feel that perusing open internet postings are an "invasion of privacy". If you have made it public, it's public. Employers can indeed seek out non-pit-bull owners, if they want. That is not a protected classification.</p>
<p>I agree with others that the friending request is inappropriate here. I would wonder what other boundaries this person might consider crossing.</p>
<p>Employers can hire whom they wish, but it would be best for prospective employees if the employer's decision were based on education, training, past experience, and demonstrated personality traits in the workplace--not the applicant's political party affiliation, choice of girlfriend or boyfriend, or legal passtimes. Personal issues may be relevant for certain jobs in the public eye, but not for most types of employment. And if those issues are relevant for some reason (jobs in law enforcement for ex.), then this should be made clear up-front.</p>
<p>And in my son's case, he did have privacy settings on so he's not sure how access was gained.</p>
<p>I don't know. While I wouldn't want to work for an employer who selected employees based on "the applicant's political party affiliation, choice of girlfriend or boyfriend," etc. there is such a thing as "fit" in the workplace as well as in college admissions. </p>
<p>What about just "googling" a candidate - is that OK? Is facebook somehow protected space?</p>
<p>I would argue the difference here between google and facebook is the difference between looking in an open window and seeing something and knocking on a window that has the shades drawn and hoping someone opens the shades so you can see in (or TheGFG's case, breaking the window).</p>
<p>I like that analogy. I'd extend it by saying, it's like requesting that the blinds be lifted, in such a way that the requestee feels compelled to raise them whether he wishes to or not.</p>
<p>"...* Forty percent of employers say they would consider the Facebook profile of a potential employee as part of their hiring decision, and several reported rescinding offers after checking out Facebook.
* Thirty-two percent of students think it's unethical for employers to use Facebook posts as part of an evaluation of candidates.
* Forty-two percent of students said it was a violation of privacy."</p>
<p>"Employers can hire whom they wish, but it would be best for prospective employees if the employer's decision were based on education, training, past experience, and demonstrated personality traits in the workplace--not the applicant's political party affiliation, choice of girlfriend or boyfriend, or legal passtimes. "</p>
<p>Except that the things that you mention are some of the things that determine whether an employee will fit into a company's culture.</p>
<p>On the subject of Facebook: Whether or not students know that employers care about Facebook, it's stupid to put anything on line that could hurt you with employers or others. That's something that for some reason most young people don't understand. Nothing published on the web or sent through e-mail can be guaranteed to be private.</p>
<p>Even if there are systems now in which only one's friends can see such information, there's a very good chance that at some point in the near or distant future, someone will find a way of gaining access to everyone's e-mails, blogs, on-line postings, etc. Consequently, it's wise to be circumspect in what one reveals.</p>
<p>You shouldn't try and put on a front for your future co-workers. They want to know who you are, and how your friends perceive you. Noone is going to care if you have pictures of beer in your hand and all, but I would not worry about the interviewer adding you as a friend. Be yourself, because your future co-worker wants to see you... not mrs. perfect jane.</p>