Abstract

Managing one's online identity, with a focus on constructing a "professional" identity, is of paramount importance for college students (Back et al., 2010; Cheney & Ashcraft, 2007; Metzger, Flanagin, & Medders, 2010). This is because employers often search for potential candidates online before they choose to interview them for a job opening (Coutu, 2007), a concept known as cybervetting (Berkelaar, 2010). Therefore, the activity described here attempts to assist students in critically evaluating their own online identities (Floyd, 2011; Hancock & Dunham, 2001), as well as a partner's online identity, to determine if the information presented conveys an appropriate professional image that would help-and not hinder-their chances of positively differentiating themselves from other candidates and in order to secure a job interview.

Citation

Crook, B. & Pastorek, A. (2015). "Would I Hire Me?" Examining the Presence of Students' Online Past. Communication Teacher, 29(1), 7-12. Retrieved August 7, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/159474/.

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Keywords

• communication skills
• computer mediated communication
• Employers
• Employment Interviews
• Online Searching
• Personnel Selection
• Professional Identity
• Profiles
• Role
• social networks
• teaching methods