I run a networking group for HR professionals in transition in the New York area. In conjunction with this, I oversee a Yahoo group where members can share job leads and network with other members. Today I looked at the board and noticed someone had visited the board to post their resume. It was obvious that this visitor didn’t spend any time viewing what the group was about because if they had they would have realized that it is not a job board. By neglecting to review the nature of the group, this job seeker has already damaged their reputation within the group. Message boards, social and business networking sites, blogs, and microblogging sites are communities that have protocols and appropriate etiquette just like any other group. In the online world, it’s important to study the community, reflect on the tone of the posts, uncover who the major players are, and have a plan to give before you get. Please look before you leap!
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Hi Barbara – Saw this post on Twitter – great reminder. I started a Linkedin group for job seekers a few months back and have only had a few issues (luckily). I got some great advice early on about laying out ground rules for everyone (including the associated penalties for breaking them). My biggest pet peeve is selfish posting – the worst being a reply to a discussion that is totally unrelated to the original topic. Frustrating!
Tim,
I think people who are not there to share quickly get “outed” by the group and learn their lesson without the moderator having to explain what they did wrong…an unfortunate, but important lesson. Thanks for reading.