Employers spy on potential employees through social networks

Do you think your private life is private?  Think again.  Your employment opportunity can be in jeopardy because of what you decided to put on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media outlet.  Why?  You may be surprised to know that employers are checking on you through social media outlets before making a final decision on offering you a job.  Here is an interview by Bridgette Shanahan of NBC News Channel 15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDWFnrbMX0&feature=related

I never could understand what your private life has to do with your qualifications.  In my opinion, what a person decides to do in their private time should be their business, as long as it does not affect their job performance.  Employers should really be careful with how they decide to use social networks as a hiring tool.  An attorney by the name of Kevin Maltby, an employment law specialist for Bacon Wilson, discusses the use of social media from a legal stand point http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZIxNQsuwIs. I hope that one day employers would base their hiring decisions solely on credentials.

Additional links on this topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=9EGwZrDmHCQ&NR=1 (can social networking keep me from getting hired, Fox 10 News)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axvk-J73G4A&feature=related (funny example)

Caffeine and college students

I recently read an article titled, "College Students Warned About Loading Up on Caffeine Boosters," in the Valley News Dispatch.  I found it very interesting, yet troubling, to read that students are not only loading up on caffeine such as coffee, sodas, and energy drinks, but they are also taking Adderall or Ritalin, a prescribed drug used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  Students are getting their hands on these drugs by any means necessary to help them with maintaining concentration.  The reason why students are going to such great lengths is because of the pressure to do well in school.  Terri Bassicook, a director of Counseling, Disability and Health Services at Seton Hill University in Greensburg states, “Some of their financial aid or scholarships are linked to their GPA (grade point averages).”

I can see using coffee, soda, tea, or energy drinks to help with staying awake while trying to study as long as you use it in moderation.  In my opinion, too much of anything can be dangerous.  I can’t imagine going to great lengths to get Adderall or Ritalin.  What ever happened to time management?  In life we have to make choices.  I’ve learned that good choices net good results and bad choices net bad results.  So what if you miss a party, can’t go to a game, or can't participate in a Madden tournament on your favorite game console; at the end of the day, which one is most important, education or pleasure?  

The start of a new semester at Penn State

I am currently a junior at Penn State the New Kensington campus.  My field of study is Corporate Communication.  Although I don't like writing, when I do write, I am told that I am a good writer content-wise; however, my punctuation could use some improvement.  I highly doubt that after graduating I will be seeking a career that involves writing.  My goal is to obtain a career that involves corporate sales, production, or marketing.  I would like to get a taste of corporate America.

The semester thus far seems interesting.  I am taking an online course, a Bi-Sci course, college Algebra, and a video production course.  I am hoping to do well in all courses.  The most challenging will probably be my writing for the web course.  I say this because time management will be most challenging for me.  I am not what you call a traditional student.  I work full time, go to school full-time, and I'm a full-time father and husband.  Balancing my time so that nothing or no one feels neglected can be a challenge within itself; I am getting much better at it, yet it can still use some work.

I am new to blogging, so finding a way to end my blog correctly is also a challenge.  How do I do that?  Do I say: the end, so long, see you soon, peace out, holla atcha, I'm gone, one, or until next time?  I guess until I can figure that out I will say: enjoy my blog.