Though the wildly popular Facebook.com began as a place for college students to post pictures and quirky interests, the site has now become a tool for potential employers, much to the chagrin of some young job-seekers.

Director of the Career Development Center (CDC) Lance Choy confirmed that employers routinely conduct Web searches to find background information on job candidates. Companies have furthered this practice by using Facebook.

One senior who asked to remain anonymous was advised by an employee at a company he was applying to a job for to untag facebook pictures. Choy also noted that one Stanford student had received a job offer from an alumnus who used the site.

Choy mentioned several potential reasons employers would choose to use Facebook to check up on job candidates.

“Employers might be able to confirm background information,” he said. “Some students write about their interests, and employers might want to check on whether this supports their job application. Some employers might try and learn something about the student’s personality and whether it would be appropriate for the job. However, there is information on Facebook that is not relevant to the job but may be used inappropriately by employers to assess a candidate.”

The use of Facebook by businesses has raised ethical concerns for some students.

“I think the practice is just downright terrible,” said senior Julie Lein. “It places an unnecessary burden on students who think of Facebook as a place to interact with friends, many times in a humorous and crude manner. I personally haven’t had any employers contact me, though I know of people who have had comments made by interviewers on either their picture or tagged pictures of them. It’s unfortunate because I never took Facebook seriously.”

Senior Lily Cheng shared the view that Facebook is not intended for employer use.

“I see Facebook as a personal domain, and one that should not be used by employers to judge a student’s qualifications,” she said. “I think the students should have the freedom to decide whether his or her Facebook site can be publicly viewed by all. Employers should not have access to sites that are restricted to students only.”

Though senior Jennifer Clark did not share the same concerns, she said she feels that Facebook is not the best place for companies to evaluate job candidates.

“I don’t think it’s unethical but I think it’s stupid,” she said. “How would an employer know a good candidate based on their Facebook profile? It’s a bunch of random stuff you put for your friends. It’s not like a resume. It just seems weird. But it’s definitely not against the law and I don’t think it’s unethical.”

She also pointed out that students do not have to respond to personal interview questions if asked about Facebook.

“If it is something I think is too personal then I won’t answer,” she said. “In sessions where they coach you on interviewing they always tell you that the employer may fish for things they are not supposed to ask, like your political affiliation, if you have dependants, etc. You are always free to explain that is a topic you’d rather not discuss.”

Though the career counselors with whom Choy spoke had only heard of one student receiving a job offer through Facebook or being asked about his or her profile, students have begun to monitor what they put on the site.

“I have a lot of ridiculous tagged photos from friends,” Lein said. “I felt compelled to de-tag the photos over break due to fear of employers seeing the pictures.”

Clark noted the importance of monitoring personal information on the Web.

“I think if people are really worried about Facebook being used against them, they should simply monitor what is on it,” she said. “Sometimes people get really personal online where the whole world can see and unless you are prepared for the whole world to see it then you should probably think twice.”

Cheng agreed that students should be responsible for managing their profiles.

“Personally, I have not posted anything on Facebook that I wouldn’t want an employer to know,” she said.

Choy said that the CDC encouraged such caution.

“Be careful about the image you portray in any public domain,” he said. “You don’t know who could be watching.”