Facebooking Yourself Out of a Job?

NetworkWorld recently reported on the results of a survey regarding how IT professionals use social media. Not surprisingly, 82 percent said they use at least one social media site (Facebook being the most popular at almost 90 percent) and of the almost 20 percent who don't, more than half say it's because they don't have a need for it.

There is no shortage of stories about how people have been fired or not hired by misusing social media. A 2010 study by internet security firm Proofpoint found seven percent of large firms (1,000 or more employees) fired employees for violating social networking policies.

Although the Proofpoint study said 20 percent of the companies disciplined employees for violations, the surveyed reported by NetworkWorld said only 3 percent of the IT workers admitted they got into trouble for their posts on a social media site.

Surprisingly, about half of the IT workers said they would modify or delete content "if they knew a prospective employer was going to review their page as part of the interview process," according to NetworkWorld. Considering that one-third said they were approached about a job through a social media site, it may be time to double check those posts.

Is it Time for a Job Change?

Companies have cut salaries and training, held back on bonuses and piled more work on employees in response to the economic downturn. These tactics may well be pushing many IT professionals to go job hunting, according to a recent Computerworld salary survey.

By Patrick Thibodeau
Mon, November 08, 2010

Computerworld — Companies have cut salaries and training, held back on bonuses and piled more work on employees in response to the economic downturn. These tactics may well be pushing many IT professionals to go job hunting, according to a recent Computerworld salary survey.

IT Career Guide: Advice for IT Professionals

More than one-third (36%) of the 343 respondents to our recent poll said that they're looking to move to a new employer in the next six months. And 69% reported that they hadn't received a pay raise in the previous six months. The survey was conducted during the last two weeks in September.

For employers, the warning couldn't be more clear: As the economy improves, the most able IT workers might leave for something better.

Further results from the survey explain why employees want to bolt.

For example, only 54% of the respondents said their salary is higher today than it was in 2008, while 26% said there had been no change and one out of five said they were making less money than they were two years ago (see charts at right).

John Moore, a director of enterprise software development at a manufacturing firm, believes that IT budgets will free up early next year if the U.S. economy manages to avoid a double-dip recession, and then companies will begin catching up on neglected projects and hire new workers.

For companies that don't want to lose their technology staffers, Moore's advice is to ensure that IT employees are recognized as valued contributors.

**To read the complete article please click on the url below.**


http://www.cio.com/article/634077/Is_it_Time_for_a_Job_Change_?source=CIONLE_nlt_insider_2010-11-10