Facebook Business Profile

Hi everyone!

Time for blog numero dos today! This post regards a site where I waste a lot of my time, good old Facebook. This week we had to make a page about professional selves, the way we would want to be portrayed to potential employers. I thought of it like an online resume, because rumor has it many companies occasionally do search the Facebook accounts of potential employees.

There were some points I thought were very important to include. Obviously my name was an essential component, as well as my level of education. I discussed previous jobs and the lessons I learned from them and the organizations with which I currently volunteer. I thought it was important to share a bit of information about my strengths in a work environment and links to my blog and twitter so they can learn a bit more about me. I included some information about my likes, so that the whole page didn’t feel too impersonal. Lastly I listed some of my favorite websites and mentors, so the reader can gain a better understanding of my personal values and ethics.

I feel that including all of these components made for a very well-rounded page. My goal was to create a page that was professional and shared my experience and future goals. However, I wanted to add small personal touches because if I have something in common with the reader they are more likely to be interested in my page and in building a professional relationship.

Building this page helped me realize that Facebook can be used for something other than procrastinating and sharing pictures or upcoming events. Businesses can build pages to advertise, celebrities can communicate with fans, and organizations can connect with potential volunteers. Although social media is sometimes regarded as a time waster that is creating an impersonal world, projects like this make a very valid argument for the advantages of social media sites. In ALES 204, where the focus is on online communication, I feel like I have gotten to know my classmates better than any other 200 person class I’ve been a part of. Reading everyone’s tweets and scrolling through their blogs has given me a real insight into the personalities and aspirations of my fellow classmates. For example, I found that Jasmeena made a very good point in reminding us all to check out privacy settings, because you really don’t know who is checking your profile! And I agree with her, having a business profile makes employers less likely to investigate my personal profile.

I found an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal about whether employers truly can fire people based on their Facebook accounts. I didn’t realize that people had legitimately gotten fired over postings, and that companies were actually being sued as a result. Articles like that definitely make me think twice about anything I post!

That’s all for now. If you want go find my Facebook professional page, follow this link! Remember, anything online is visible to the whole wide world. So keep it professional people!

Jen

      From jkhay (2011), Edmonton. Retrieved September 23, 2011 from http://www.flickr.com

    From jkhay (2011), Edmonton. Retrieved September 23, 2011 from http://www.flickr.com

 From jkhay (2011), Edmonton. Retrieved November 11, 2011 from http://www.flickr.com

Intro Post

Hello world!

My name is Jennifer Hay and this is my first ever blog! So you must bear with me while I explore this newfound world of blogging. But I will try my very best to update it often and share any interesting links and stories I stumble across on the internet. After all, being a university student seems to come hand-in-hand with using the internet to procrastinate, so I discover all kinds of interesting news articles the night before a midterm. And if you really start to miss my amazing wit, you can follow my twitter account (@JenHay13), which I promise to update daily!

I am currently a third year student in the animal health program, with a major in companion and performance animals. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I hope to attend the University of Calgary or the University of Saskatchewan for veterinary school. I am really enjoying third year so far, it is nice to be finally done with all the introductory level courses and I’m finding all of my animal science courses fascinating.

Communication plays a huge role in both my journey to attending vet school and the veterinary profession I hope to one day join. Volunteering is a phenomenal way to gain experience with a wide variety of animals. The internet is an indispensable resource to communicate with various volunteer organizations, as the majority have websites and use social media to attract volunteers. The internet allows me to search for volunteering opportunities within a specific sub-genre (ie. helping train service dogs) and easily find multiple organizations, saving me tons of time! I have also found social media sites, specifically Facebook, a superb tool for corresponding with other volunteers. I volunteer as a dog walker at The Edmonton Humane Society, however I am one of hundreds of dog walkers. To facilitate communication the EHS created a Facebook page exclusively for their volunteers. Here, we can post which dogs are high energy and need to be walked often, or which dogs are shy and need some extra one-on-one attention. Without Facebook, communication among this many part-time volunteers would be a nightmare! In my field, communication is also essential for dissemination of current information. Animal health is a very broad field and there are thousands of organizations ranging from the Chicken Farmers of Canada  to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. These organizations have two roles: educating the public and listening to the concerns and ideas of the public. Open and effective lines of communication are essential for that relationship to be successful.

As a veterinarian, communication between researchers and vets is critical, as new discoveries are being made everyday. The internet plays an amazing role is this distribution of information, as it would be impossible for one vet to attend every scientific conference relating to their field. Thanks to the world wide web, they can now read the latest research and discuss the newest techniques with other vets from the comfort of their home. In addition, I feel it is important for me to learn to be the most effective communicator possible because behind every sick animal is a frantic owner. Being able to reassure people, as well as educating your clients on how to be the best pet owners possible, is routine in the veterinary profession. So if I want to survive and succeed for the next forty or fifty years of my life, I must become a clear and successful communicator. I hope this blog will be a start in that journey!

Until next time,

Jen