The Do's and Don'ts of Social Networking

Social networking through sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. can help you find a job and connect with people who can assist you with advancing your career. However, it can also jeopardize a job offer or even your current job. Think before you post. Ask yourself, “Would I want mom to read this?”
Do’s
Google your name—There is a ton of information that can tell employers a lot about you online including tweets, blogs and photos you post.
Go on an untagging spree—Photos of you drunk, using drugs, smooching and inappropriate behavior will hurt your chances of being hired.
Be careful what you put on your profile—Any negative comments about past or current employers, poor communication skills, and lies about your qualification can affect your job. You probably shouldn’t tweet “I hate my job,” or “My boss is annoying,” because potential employers will see you as a bad candidate and your current employer will probably fire you.
Join groups selectively—Social networking sites are fun because you can connect with other people who share the same interests and have your sense of humor. Joining a funny group might seem harmless to you, however, to a hiring manager you might not seem as mature. So you should probably think twice about joining the group “I can’t hear you, I’m drinking beer.”
Don’ts
Forget your privacy settings—If you don’t want everyone to see your profile, change all the privacy settings to private so only your friends can see your profile.
Spend time online on company time—When job searching, do it on your own time. Most employers monitor what employees are doing on company time such as using a work computer or email account for job searching. Looking at job postings, uploading your resume, updating your online profile, etc. should be done at home.
Connect with everyone—Quality is better than quantity. Before you connect with someone, consider what you have in common. How can this person help me and vice versa? The more you’re willing to help someone else, the more likely they will return the favor.