New grads and Social Media

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Specializes in NICU.

You never know who is looking at your Facebook page. Good or bad, your Facebook page may be the first impression that Human Resources, Nurse Recruiters, and Nurse Managers have when deciding whether to interview you for a job. The same goes true with this website. Even though it is anonymous, it wouldn't be too hard for a Nurse manager who is a long time member of this site to follow the "breadcrumbs" to determine that the male new grad (with Don in his screen name) applying for a job in your department (NICU) is the same person that you have been reading posts from in the AN forums?

So, if you have had no interviews, many interviews but no job offers or you magically breeze through a job interview and quickly offered a position, you might want to look at your social media presence. Big Sister may be watching you.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
You never know who is looking at your Facebook page. Good or bad, your Facebook page may be the first impression that Human Resources, Nurse Recruiters, and Nurse Managers have when deciding whether to interview you for a job. The same goes true with this website. Even though it is anonymous, it wouldn't be too hard for a Nurse manager who is a long time member of this site to follow the "breadcrumbs" to determine that the male new grad (with Don in his screen name) applying for a job in your department (NICU) is the same person that you have been reading posts from in the AN forums?

So, if you have had no interviews, many interviews but no job offers or you magically breeze through a job interview and quickly offered a position, you might want to look at your social media presence. Big Sister may be watching you.

Excellent advice!

Our institution has hired people who spend their entire working lives combing through the internet -- social media, AN, etc. -- looking for references to the institution or by our employees. At least one employee has been fired over a racist comment made on social media and several have been disciplined. And this forum is not as anonymous as one might think -- many member say they've been discovered by colleagues even after attempts to remain anonymous. And then, of course, there are the members who post under their real names using selfies as avatars. Sooner or later nearly everyone says something they wish they hadn't, asks a question that comes across as stupid or posts an opinion that becomes more controversial than expected. When that happens, it's wise to be as anonymous as possible.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

People think their privacy setting can protect them, but it doesn't take much to find people these days. I actually do have coworkers, managers and former instructors on Facebook, and I am careful to post accordingly. It wouldn't take much for someone to follow my "breadcrumbs" on here if they were motivated, and I consider that in my posting. It sometimes AMAZES me what people will post with their names and pictures attached. I think people sometimes forget that there are some of us that prefer to keep nursing a "profession."

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Specializes in ICU.

Yes. My Facebook is very vanilla. Never a pic of me drinking or doing anything questionable. I always like the saying that I grew up before the internet so all of my dumb stuff was done before the invention of that and picture phones!! One advantage to being older!! Heck my first cell phone came in a bag!!

really though people need to remember that yes we live in a free country, but hiring managers have that same freedom to not hire us as we do to apply for the job.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

This should be a dedicated sticky and reminders for posters to see prior to signing up as well as upon the first visit. :yes:

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Specializes in PACU.

I barely use most social media. My Facebook is so boring, I don't really use twitter. The only thing I really use more than the others is Instagram--which is about 95% pictures of my dog, LOL!

My whole thing with the internet is: if I have nothing nice to say, I keep it to myself because the internet NEVER forgets.

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Very good advice!

Social media allows others to take a closer look at you- your thoughts, hobbies, etc. It's important to refrain from making negative, angry, unprofessional posts that could (possibly) impact your career. Don't post negatively about your employer or co-workers. The same goes for pictures. Pictures of drugs, drinking, partying, etc. is not acceptable. I can only imagine how many employers found the applicant's social media accounts, saw their posts (or pictures) and threw the application in the rejection bin. A little key to remember: don't post what you wouldn't want your grandmother to see.

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We were in the breakroom a few weeks ago, and a nurse made a comment about another nurse's "professionalism." The unit manager said, "'Mary?' Professional? Please. Have you seen her Snapchat lately? She's sweet, yeah, but 'professional?' I don't think so." Followed by....silence. Wow. how do you think that affects "Mary's" performance reviews? Eligibility for transfer? Recommendations? Even just the trust and respect that she gets from her colleagues and supervisors on the floor. Yoiks! NO social media friends at work for me, thanks...

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Social media albeit 10 years young, is still an up and coming technology. Social media can be used for both good and bad. It's very important to be and informed consumer. You all referenced the negative of social media and someone even said that their page is very "vanilla". Remember, there is social media out there (Linkedin.com) that is professional in at least intent. Social media may also serve professionals well and advance their career if used properly.

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I'm planning on deleting my Facebook as soon as I start to apply for jobs. I've never done drugs, not an alcoholic, but there's always that one friend that posts the most ridiculous candid photo that makes you look like a crazy-nutbag-drunken fool.

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We were in the breakroom a few weeks ago, and a nurse made a comment about another nurse's "professionalism." The unit manager said, "'Mary?' Professional? Please. Have you seen her Snapchat lately? She's sweet, yeah, but 'professional?' I don't think so." Followed by....silence. Wow. how do you think that affects "Mary's" performance reviews? Eligibility for transfer? Recommendations? Even just the trust and respect that she gets from her colleagues and supervisors on the floor. Yoiks! NO social media friends at work for me, thanks...

What is included under the term professionalism seems to vary by subscriber. I would consider unprofessional the act of a supervisor discussing another associate with her peers.

Furthermore, I would consider friending superiors on social media a blur of professional lines. It is hard to not show favoritism towards a subordinate when you're friends with them outside of work.

Discussing coworkers at all, without them present, unless you're making positive comments is something I see as unprofessional.

One thing that I've found that is a universal language--smiling and saying yes, even when you'd rather not and keeping your opinions of coworkers and patients to yourself.

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Yes. My Facebook is very vanilla. Never a pic of me drinking or doing anything questionable.

Then your Facebook may not be so "vanilla" after all. This vanilla bean exclusively posts pics of drunken exploits and questionable activities ;)

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