Facebook Page, The New Resume?

   Facebook Screenshot, From ellesheepberg (2011) Retrieved from Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/75301849@N06/6769204687/in/photostream

I want to share a personal story about how I came to understand the importance of having an accessible, professional "resume" for people interested in your work. With today`s focus on social media and with a majority of people on these sites it is important that if a future employer finds you on a site, they see their future employee. In my story I am the potential fan, searching for reasons to be just that.

Last year I turned on my television and it was on CBC, immediately deterred by the complexity and boredom associated with politics I clicked on the guide. While perusing through channels the conversation going on in the top corner of the guide caught my attention. The conversation was between host of Power and Politics, Evan Solomon and Current Canadian Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq. Not only did this debate spark a desire to try to understand politics and current events but I also admired Evan Solomon for providing such an electric yet truthful environment for debate. I wanted to know everything I could about Evan Solomon as a politician, and as a person. I wanted to find easily accessible academic and professional history to understand what made him the person I saw on the show.

 Resume. From mazeo (2011)Retrieved from
 http://openclipart.org/detail/155095/resume-by-mazeo

 Job Interview. From mazeo (2011) Retrieved from
http://openclipart.org/detail/155107/job-interview-by-mazeo
















What encouraged me to share this story was remembering how I looked all over facebook for information about the show and about the host. Imagine the disappointment when I could not find a page about this person. I wanted to see a page written by him personally, promoting his beliefs and ideas, and giving me a way to connect to someone I admired. Social media is so crucial today; when I want real, relative information about a public figure I search them on facebook or twitter. The absence of a page for one person, encouraged me to look for the page of someone else, this is when I found an awesome, informative page for Kevin O'Leary. He makes it clear about his career objectives and accomplishments, but also tells fans about the things he likes, like the show Shark Tank. I realized that it is possible that a future employer may dismiss a candidate simply because he/she finds a more accessible one.

While making my facebook page I thought about how one day an employer may search or find my facebook page, just as I (as a fan) searched for Evan Solomon`s page. If they happen to come across it, I want to convey a professional appeal as well as a personal one. Using a facebook as an online resume was something that never crossed my mind until I was told about this project. Now that I think back to my experience when deciding on my position about Evan Solomon, I think how easy and interesting it could be if he had a facebook page representing his achievements, education, early thoughts on career goals, feelings on his current position, and possibly trivia or facts. We do not usually blindly follow someone if we do not know anything about them. If given the opportunity to represent yourself the best way possible - instead of having people guess about who you are and what you stand for – take it! When I read Caitlyn`s blog she said that it is easy for anyone to search you on google or facebook for example and find something, so why not have them find a page where you promote yourself in a professional way with a personal touch.

Written by: Lina Hegberg
TA: Shannon Clarke
Lab: H8