(standing ovation) On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 3:47 PM, Kelwyn <ravena...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > I categorically reject the notion that we must accept something because > that is the way it is done. The way things are done become the way things > are done when we sheepishly acquiesce to the way things are done. > > I argue, futilely so far, that black people need jobs more than education. > On the surface that appears to be a nonsense statement but I am well aware > of things work in the real world. If everyone has a degree, employers will > use something else to cull applicants - and it will devalue the value of the > degree. > > As we speak, the college degree is becoming the equivalent of a high school > diploma. To get the job I got with a high school diploma, my children will > require a college degree. Not because you need a college degree to do it - > you don't - but to limit the employment pool. > > For instance, there are way more people with law degrees than people who > can actually pass the bar exam. The esteemed mayor of Chicago passed law > school but failed the Illinois bar exam five times. I happen to know a man > with thirty years of quality experience who cannot currently find employment > because most employers require that applicants past a test called the CQT. > This quality professional has taken the CQT three times and cannot master > the test. I also know many people who have passed the test (myself included) > who couldn't carry this guy's test tubes. > > Having said all that, I have ensured that both my children will be enrolled > in college next fall (my son will be a senior and my daughter will be a > freshman). I do this for the same reason my mother insisted I graduate from > high school. A college degree will be a minimum requirement. > > Yet, when "everyone" has a college degree it will be these "facebook" > shenanigans that will uneven the playing field. > > ~(no)rave! > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com>, Keith > Johnson <keithbjohn...@...> wrote: > > > > I have friends who are long time, high level HR people, and they say the > habit of web surfing on applicants is gaining more traction--and it's not > just for black people. Employers do it for jobs that are high profile ( such > as executives), they do it for jobs that require some level of trust (bank > employees, other HR applicants, teachers, counselors), they do it to suss > out potential conflicts of views (think tanks, political/activist > organizations), etc. > > > > Now, I agree that some may do this just to look for a reason to screen > out people they're already doubtful on, but it's really way more than that > now. It's being used against a lot of white folk, middle class folk, > educated folk--folk who on the surface are "acceptable". It's being seen > more and more as just another good tool, along with background checks, drug > tests, security clearances, credit checks, and in depth references. I'm not > a fan of much of this--especially credit checks for people who won't be > handling money or jewels or something--but in this case I think it's a very > widespread trend that we all must take into account. > > > > There are absolutely some conservative, narrow-minded people using this > to screen out others. And perhaps that group will always be the main ones > who do so, but it's becoming much more mainstream than that, and it'd be a > mistake to dismiss it as something only used by right-wing, conservative > companies to keep out liberals and blacks and gays, etc. > > > > And yes, even harried, overworked companies are making the time for > this... > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Kelwyn" <ravena...@...> > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > > Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:59:33 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Six Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I had a different reaction. This article dovetails neatly with my > contention that employers look for reasons NOT to hire you rather than > looking for reasons to hire you (especially if you are of the > African-American persuasion). In other words, what you couch as a using > common sense issue, I couch as a cautionary tale. > > > > Further, with human resource departments as devastated as other company > payrolls (and with these employers inundated with applicants), I marvel that > those still employed have time to do google searches on potential > applicants. > > > > (Are there companies out there that perform these duties for harried and > understaffed human resource departments?) > > > > I tend to look at articles like these as attempts by the staid and > conservative minded to curve behavior they frown upon. Another attempt by > the wolves to herd the sheep. > > > > ~(no)rave! > > I had a different reaction. This article dovetails neatly with my > contention that employers look for reasons NOT to hire you rather than > looking for reasons to hire you (especially if you are of the > African-American persuasion). In other words, what you couch as a using > common sense issue, I couch as a cautionary tale. > > > > Further, with human resource departments as devastated as other company > payrolls (and with these employers inundated with applicants), I marvel that > those still employed have time to do google searches on potential > applicants. > > > > (Are there companies out there that perform these duties for harried and > understaffed human resource departments?) > > > > I tend to look at articles like these as attempts by the staid and > conservative minded to curve behavior they frown upon. Another attempt by > the wolves to herd the sheep. > > > > ~(no)rave! > > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> , Keith > Johnson <KeithBJohnson@> wrote: > > > > > > These tips should be common sense, but I'm stunned how many people do > some of this. I have friends and former co-workers who indeed post all kinds > of shots of themselves drinking, partying, etc. But more than that, I'm > amazed at how many people I know have posted things such as "Sitting here at > this job I hate watching TV online", or, "Trying to find a better job". > > > So take a quick peek, and if you are now looking for a job, or thinking > about it, take a look at your social networking stuff out there with a more > cautious eye... > > > > > > ******************************************************* > > > > http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109267/6-career-killing-facebook-mistakes > > > > > > 6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > by Erin Joyce, Managing Editor > > > Wednesday, April 7, 2010 > > > > > > > > > provided by > > > investopedia_logo.jpg > > > > > > With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the > most popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known > for the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional > networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool > for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential > employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are > using Facebook to screen potential employees â€" even more than those who > check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don't make > these Facebook faux-pas â€" they might cost you a great opportunity. > > > 1. Inappropriate Pictures > > > > > > It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don't > want to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a > night at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn't want your grandparents to > see, seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help > to support the persona you want to present in your professional life. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. Complaining About Your Current Job > > > > > > You've no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about > how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could > be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up > late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public > forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it > may seem innocent, it's not the kind of impression that sits well with a > potential boss. > > > > > > > > > 3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume > > > > > > If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your > Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you're likely to be immediately cut > from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn't leave you looking > better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, > and at best careless. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See > > > > > > Everyone should know to avoid statuses like "Tom plans to call in sick > tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work > project isn't done?" But you should also be aware of less flamboyant > statuses like "Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her > desk". Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically > anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can > seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings > > > > > > The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site > started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what > each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand > these settings, or don't bother to check who has access to what. If you are > going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren't, make sure you > take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your > profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any > of your pictures or information. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. Losing by Association > > > > > > You can't control what your friends post to your profile (although you > can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or > to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those > Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down > drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely > innocent. It's unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, > at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your > profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn't want to show your > mother. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Facebook Can Help You Get Hired … or Fired > > > > > > The best advice is to lock down your personal profile so that only > friends you approve can see anything on that profile. Then, create a second, > public profile on Facebook purely for professional use. This profile > functions like an online resume, and should only contain information you'd > be comfortable telling your potential employer face to face. Having a social > networking profile is a good thing â€" it presents you as technologically > and professionally savvy. Just make sure your profile is helping to present > your best side â€" not the side that got drunk at your buddy's New Year's > party. > > > > > > > >
