Young Job-Seekers Hiding Their Facebook Pages

(CNN) -- Justin Gawel says there's nothing too incriminating on his Facebook page.

"There are a lot of pictures of drinking [but] nothing naked or anything -- at least I don't think so," he said jokingly.

Even so, the Michigan State University junior recently changed his Facebook display name to "Dustin Jawel" to keep his personal life from potential employers while applying for summer internships.

Although Gawel ditched his rhyming alias after two weeks when he realized Facebook users also can be searched by e-mail address, school and network, he is not alone in his efforts to scrub his online résumé. Many students and recent graduates say they are changing their names on Facebook or tightening privacy settings to hide photos and wall posts from potential employers.

And with good reason.

A recent survey commissioned by Microsoft found that 70 percent of recruiters and hiring managers in the United States have rejected an applicant based on information they found online.

What kind of information? "Inappropriate" comments by the candidate; "unsuitable" photos and videos; criticisms of previous employers, co-workers, or clients; and even inappropriate comments by friends and relatives, according to the survey report, titled "Online Reputation in a Connected World."

Such prying into his online life makes Gawel uncomfortable.

"I understand that when [employers look] at someone's Facebook page, they're just trying to paint a bigger picture of the people they're hiring -- so they're not just a name on a résumé," he said. "But that doesn't demonstrate whether they can do the job. It shouldn't matter what someone does when they're not in the office."

Gawel said he's not sure that employers would object to the information on his Facebook page. For him, it's more about personal privacy.

"Too many people take pictures of you. I didn't want to go through and 'untag' all of them," he said. "There's nothing illegal or too ridiculous in the photos ... but people don't take pictures of people studying or doing school work. They take pictures of people at parties and doing silly things."

For better or worse, online screenings may be a permanent part of the 21st-century hiring process.The Microsoft survey found that 79 percent of U.S. hiring managers have used the Internet to better assess applicants.

Read the rest of the story here.

Why Don't Employers Call You Back?

(This is great advice, BUT, whatever you do, don't give up hope. I didn't get a call back the first time I applied for my job at Second Helpings.)

By Anthony Balderrama
CareerBuilder.com writer

Is there any worse confidence killer than rejection?

I think it goes back to childhood, when you want a new bike for your birthday but you end up getting a pack of tube socks instead. You immediately wonder if you did something wrong and that's why you didn't get what you wanted.

Go forward a few years when you end up taking your cousin to the prom because everyone else turned you down. And the college years? Basically a parade of rejection that feels like an endless line of Rockette kicks to your confidence.

Or maybe that was just my experience.

Still, that same game of "Is it me or them?" continues well into adulthood as you begin searching for a job. You make a list of your best qualities, send them to employers, get dressed up and try to woo them in an interview. Then you wait. And wait. And wait. The phone never rings.

Job seekers want to know why they can seemingly do everything right, and yet, still they don't hear back from employers. We're not talking about getting turned down for the job -- we're talking about not even hearing a "Sorry, but the position has been filled." So we went to the source to find out.

Submitting the application

For a job seeker, the application process is full of anxiety and excitement. When you're looking for a job, each available position represents a possible new beginning.

Before you've submitted an application, you've already daydreamed about your first day on the job. The problem is that to some employers, you're just one in a dozen. Or in some cases, one in 500.

"In the current market, if you post a job, you will get buried with résumés," says Matthew McMahon, partner at staffing firm McMahon Partners LLC. "Maybe 5 percent are in the ballpark."

This means plenty of hiring managers spend their time reading irrelevant applications that don't help them find the right candidate. As a result, they have less time for you. "You simply don't have time to respond to [all applicants]."

To many job seekers this attitude may sound cold and impersonal. After all, behind each of these applications is a person waiting for a return call. McMahon cannot possibly respond to each one individually, but he does take the time to reach out to applicants who show promise.

"If somebody is close, but slightly off target, I will usually take the time to give them a call, learn about what they are looking for, tell them about the sort of roles I fill, and keep the notes for future use," he says.

How about the ones who miss the mark completely?

"If the person isn't even close (or has not read the description), I don't bother spending the time because they are obviously applying for everything," he says. Take that as further proof that throwing your application at every open position and hoping to have some success is not the way to conduct a job search.

Read the rest of the story here.

Tavis Smiley To Open Pizza Restaurants in Indy

Hoosier Tavis Smiley plans to open several Marco's Pizza shops

By Nicole Blake
nicole.blake@indystar.com

Kokomo native Tavis Smiley is a household name when it comes to radio and television, but the PBS talk show host is cutting into a savory new challenge.

He plans to open 37 Marco's Pizza franchises in the next five years. Smiley hopes they will create 1,000 jobs in the Indianapolis area.

His goal: to bring economic development to areas that haven't seen much growth and provide work for teens who need the extra cash. There also are entrepreneurial opportunities for those looking to someday open their own franchises. Considering sales and the work this will create for local vendors and other companies, Smiley says this will mean at least $1 billion being pumped into the Indiana economy during the next 20 years.

"Here is an opportunity for me to do something for the community and be able to give some young people some opportunity," said Smiley, who delivered newspapers as a boy.

He is coming to town this weekend to meet with potential investors and promote his documentary film, "Stand."

His first pizzeria, near East 71st Street and Binford Boulevard, has been open since April and employs about 20 people. Smiley hopes the second restaurant will be in full operation before the end of the year. A site hasn't been chosen yet for that one.

He said the city's growth and Marco's positive performance during the past 11 quarters played a part in his decision to take on this business endeavor. As the majority investor, Smiley bought the rights to own and develop a minimum of 37 restaurants, which will operate under the name Circle City Hospitality. Longtime friend and business partner Harold Patrick is managing the investment company and overseeing much of the operation.

Smiley wouldn't say who the potential investors are, just that he has had verbal commitments from three well-known individuals who live in Indianapolis. According to the Marco's Pizza Web site, costs for a new restaurant run from $219,000 to $419,000.

It's an ambitious undertaking, but not impossible, says Mandy Detwiler, managing editor for Pizza Today, an industry magazine.

"With the economy like it is right now, certainly going with a franchise company is going to give you the backing that you might not have had as an independent startup," Detwiler said.

In the past six months, 20 Marco's Pizza stores have opened in California, Florida and Virginia, among other states. Last year Pizza Today ranked the chain 30th out of 100 top pizza companies based on gross sales. In all, according to its Web site, Marco's Pizza has more than 180 franchised and company-managed stores in 17 states. All four Indiana stores are in Indianapolis.

Patrick, who has been in the franchising business more than two decades, said he will consider the number of households and schools in the area before selecting locations. This includes both affluent and less affluent areas, but "pizza is universal," he said. "Everyone deserves good pizza."

As for the risks, Smiley is aware that things might not go as planned, but he has a positive outlook.

"Business is investing money, taking a risk and hoping that it works," he said.

Help the Men of Indianapolis Suit Up!

The Men of Indianapolis need our help! On November 17, 2007 Suit Up! will be hosting a suit drive to benefit men with gaining access to business clothes and professional services. It is our goal to provide gently used men’s clothing, confidence and career development support. Suit Up is a new organization that is taking the initiative to assist men in their effort to gain employment in Indianapolis.

When to donate: Saturday November, 17, 2007 from 9am to 2pm.

Where to donate: Forest Manor Multi Service Center 5603 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46218

What to donate: A stylish, classy, suit, blazer or slacks that you would lend to a friend if he was going to an interview – we are looking for suits and jackets that empower men and make them feel confident!

Please bring the item or items on hangers.

Our goal at Suit Up! is to provide men with not only clothing, but with workshops on résumé writing, interviewing skills, and the necessary tools to succeed upon entering the workforce.

Suit Up! understands that if a man doesn’t have a job, he can’t afford a suit. But, without a suit, he can’t get a job! Your suit, shirt and financial contributions will make an immeasurable impact on our ability to reach men who have the ability to succeed, but need the clothes, confidence and career support to do so.

Please tell everyone you know about the Suit Up! Initiative. Donating one suit will help a man Suit Up!