So, what EXACTLY do you look for on myspace?

Originally Posted by jessXIca

you shouldn't make major decisions about people based on myspace...people don't necessarily put everything they like or that they're involved in, they might leave stuff out, exaggerate for humorous effect, etc. why not actually talk to the person and get to know their whole picture before making huge judgements like that?

I'm sorry, if I'm an employer gathering info on someone who wants to work for me, if I see a potential new hire's MySpace is filled with half naked pictures, that'll up throw a red flag.

If a potential date has pictures of Tila Tequila and other import model whores all over his page, I'd wonder if that's the kind of woman he really wants.

Why bother getting to know the person if you're already turned off? That'd just be wasting my time so I won't even bother.

If people are concerned about being unfairly judged because of their profiles, maybe they should start being truthful and honest instead of simply putting up fronts.

[sdsuchelle]

I mean, if I want to get to know a person better, I'll check out their favorites and blogs and stuff.. but as far as what would raise red flags as to their personality, it would be sexually provocative pictures, those LAME bathroom-mirror self portraits (LMAO), too many glittery blinky things, TyPiN LiKe DiS, lying, or a bunch of highly personal emotional blogs. Seriously, nobody needs to read that, make it private.

Oh also, comments from friends. Last year we had a candidate for student elections disqualified because his friend left a comment like "if people don't vote for you, they're FAGS" on his page, and the guy left it up there instead of deleting it. Seriously, put it on comment-approval!

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by OTW

I'm sorry, if I'm an employer gathering info on someone who wants to work for me, if I see a potential new hire's MySpace is filled with half naked pictures, that'll up throw a red flag.

If a potential date has pictures of Tila Tequila and other import model whores all over his page, I'd wonder if that's the kind of woman he really wants.

Why bother getting to know the person if you're already turned off? That'd just be wasting my time so I won't even bother.

If people are concerned about being unfairly judged because of their profiles, maybe they should start being truthful and honest instead of simply putting up fronts.

Yes, one of the first things I look at on someone's profile is his/her pictures, and their friends. If they have 3, 875 friends who are all scantily-clad girls in provacative poses, I don't exactly get a favorable impression. Fair? Maybe not, but it's always wise to be conscientious about what your MySpace profile says about you--especially to someone who doesn't know you well--because you never know who might be looking at it.

And comment-approval is a good thing, folks...I know someone who got into big trouble because of something someone left on his comments as a joke, and it wasn't pretty.

[WhiteDaisy128]

Because the fact that someone enjoys looking at beautiful women automatically means they are unqualified for a job and will probably sexually harrass every woman they come in contact with. Right.

I can see the issue if there are illegal activities alluded to (drugs, etc.), but professional life and personal life should be kept seperate. I'm not saying that it's wrong to look at the profiles per se (and I'm not saying it's wright to flaunt half naked pictures of yourself, etc. on your profile), but to place hard core judgements on people that will effect their very real life (income, job opportunities, etc.) is close minded and wrong when there are not legal issues to worry about.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by WhiteDaisy128

Because the fact that someone enjoys looking at beautiful women automatically means they are unqualified for a job and will probably sexually harrass every woman they come in contact with. Right.

I can see the issue if there are illegal activities alluded to (drugs, etc.), but professional life and personal life should be kept seperate. I'm not saying that it's wrong to look at the profiles per se (and I'm not saying it's wright to flaunt half naked pictures of yourself, etc. on your profile), but to place hard core judgements on people that will effect their very real life (income, job opportunities, etc.) is close minded and wrong when there are not legal issues to worry about.

They should be, but they aren't. I know there are employers/grad schools that look online at candidates, and that includes MySpace pages, Facebook pages, etc. I mean, you can obviously make your page private, but people are judged on first impressions. If the job or scholastic position is high-competition, anything unprofessional or questionable about the applicant will be a detriment. Maybe it's not fair, but that's life.

As for me, I never really think of anything when I look at pages. The only friends I have are people who I'm actually friends with, so the pages don't matter much to me. The high graphic pages bug me sometimes, but besides that, no other thoughts really cross my mind.

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

They should be, but they aren't. I know there are employers/grad schools that look online at candidates, and that includes MySpace pages, Facebook pages, etc. I mean, you can obviously make your page private, but people are judged on first impressions. If the job or scholastic position is high-competition, anything unprofessional or questionable about the applicant will be a detriment. Maybe it's not fair, but that's life..

Truth.

-Lil' Hannah
--HR professional who looks up candidates on MySpace

[Cardinal026]

I agree with keeping it private or at least discreet...its your choice to put information up on the internet, just like its other's option to look at it. When I was active my chapter had a policy in the bylaws about keeping facebook/webshots, etc clean because it reflected on the sorority - if you see all of XYZs w/ drunk, half naked pictures you'll make an assumption about the sorority, and I can see an employer also not wanting its employees to reflect them in a negative light. And my company also looks at those pages.

As for what I look for on Myspace, when I get added by someone, I usually just look to see if its possible that I know them - college, highschool, current location. I'm just not interested in adding someone that I don't know.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by Cardinal026

As for what I look for on Myspace, when I get added by someone, I usually just look to see if its possible that I know them - college, highschool, current location. I'm just not interested in adding someone that I don't know.

Yep. I don't really use it much, anyway; mostly to see what people are up to with whom I may not have otherwise kept in touch.

[EE-BO]

I was not even aware of MySpace until earlier this year.

Maybe I am more of a privacy nut than most, but I cannot imagine putting those kinds of details about myself on the internet for anyone to see.

Purely out of curiosity- what is the real benefit of being out there on MySpace? Do people really meet that many new real life friends or make connections for work? I just ask because the potential downsides seem so great. Maybe in certain lines of work it is more helpful than in others?

As for the employment thing- this is an interesting angle. I have been sitting here trying to think of how that could result in some kind of lawsuit- but I really can't. When you put yourself out there in the public eye in an unflattering way, then you have to expect others will consider that in evaluating you as a potential employee.

[James]

How do they find them (employers)? People don't put their real, full names on there do they?

Originally Posted by KSigkid

They should be, but they aren't. I know there are employers/grad schools that look online at candidates, and that includes MySpace pages, Facebook pages, etc. I mean, you can obviously make your page private, but people are judged on first impressions. If the job or scholastic position is high-competition, anything unprofessional or questionable about the applicant will be a detriment. Maybe it's not fair, but that's life.

As for me, I never really think of anything when I look at pages. The only friends I have are people who I'm actually friends with, so the pages don't matter much to me. The high graphic pages bug me sometimes, but besides that, no other thoughts really cross my mind.

Originally Posted by James

How do they find them (employers)? People don't put their real, full names on there do they?

First and last names aren't published, but if you type it into their search engine, it'll bring up your profile. It's used for search purposes only.

[AlexMack]

I look at other people's pictures and then mock them relentlessly. Sometimes I send fake messages pretending to be nice so I can get on their friend list and then I can view their pictures that way. Then I mock them some more.

Myspace is evil but provides endless amounts of entertainment for forum threads like 'Trolls of Myspace'.

[James]

Ahh . . thanks

Originally Posted by OTW

First and last names aren't published, but if you type it into their search engine, it'll bring up your profile. It's used for search purposes only.