With this post I am going to be addressing something that many of you are probably already familiar with, and that’s Web 2.0 technology. I hope to be able to shed some light as to how it is used in our graduate program and provide some tips when using it.
What is Web 2.0?
For those of you who may be a little unclear as to what exactly Web 2.0 technology is, I will provide a brief overview. Web 2.0 technology is a group of various applications that are designed to provide information sharing and communication services through a user-centered design. This is all accomplished through the Internet using a wide variety of different applications. Some of the most popular applications include YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, flickr, and Linkedin. Although each application has a slightly different purpose, style and overall theme to it... they share many common characteristics.
How We Use It
The first thing that needs to be stated is that in our MBA program, I believe that 100% of our class has a Facebook profile. I have not met a single student who does not have one. The next thing I would point out is that the vast majority of students are VERY active in using it, checking/updating/communicating several times a day. Many of our professors use it as well as many members of Pepperdine’s administration. It is so widely used and frequently checked that it has become the standard communication medium for all informal communication in our program. Most students also have some form of Internet enabled smart phone that allows them to access Facebook from their cell phone for the few times they are away from their laptops.
Because Facebook is so widespread, we use it constantly for almost everything it can be used for. For example, if I have a homework question, I’d check my Facebook chat to see if someone from my class is on to ask them. If I wanted to have a social event with some friends, I would let them know the details through a Facebook Event that would be sent to all the people I wanted to invite. If I wanted to let all of my friends know something, like I was going skiing for the day (aka in the mountains with possibly limited Facebook connection), I would send it out as a Facebook Status Update.
Advice #1: Have It, Update It, Check It
If you are not already one of the hundreds of millions of people that have a Facebook account, you should get one. Facebook has revolutionized the way that we communicate as a society and most definitely as an MBA program. The list of advantages of having a Facebook profile is huge, most importantly communication and networking. Setting up a Facebook account is free, quick and easy.
Once you have your Facebook account, become an active member. The way to get the most out of Facebook is to put the most into it. If people know that you respond to Facebook messages within a few hours, they are much more likely to communicate with you. Being able to check your Facebook from your cell phone, in less than 30 seconds from anywhere makes staying current very easy.
Advice #2: Be Professional At All Times
Many people don’t understand that everything that they post online on Facebook has the potential of being seen by other people. Posted pictures, comments, status updates and even potentially “private” things like messages and chats can become public information. It is a common HR practice for a company to Google someone’s name at some point during the hiring process and it is inevitable that their Facebook profile will come up.
While the site’s privacy settings can be adjusted, it is important to view everything you do on Facebook as something that a potential employer would see. Try to look at every picture of yourself on Facebook and ask yourself if you would feel comfortable showing that picture to someone who could potentially give you a job someday.
I try to utilize my Facebook profile in a different way... I try to use it to my advantage. I create my page with the hope that a potential employer would find it and be able to see it. With that in mind, everything I post onto Facebook is a positive reflection of myself. My pictures are professional, my profile contains my detailed bio, my education section is completely filled out, my status updates are professional, my comments are positive, I am mindful of my spelling & grammar, etc.
Conclusion
Web 2.0 technology has arrived and has become a norm of the business school environment. This technology can make your life much easier if used correctly. It is important to know that your profile and actions represent you as an individual. That’s about it for this topic... time to check my Facebook and get to bed!
