Senior Nick Wright joined the ‘CIA Careers’ Facebook group because he believes the government watches it very closely.

‘This may just be a conspiracy theory, but I believe it will be used as a serious way to look at criminal backgrounds,’ said Wright, a broadcast journalism major. ‘I joined it not because I want to be in the CIA, but because I wanted to see what kinds of correspondence I got from them, and what kinds of background checks they did.’

The Central Intelligence Agency, along with other employers such as Ernst & Young, has begun using Facebook as a recruitment tool. While some groups offer contact information, resume advice, student testimonials and more, the ‘CIA Careers’ group offers very little. It has only an embedded video from YouTube, a brief description and a direct link to the CIA’s recruitment Web site.

‘We see this as a marketing tool. It’s for information purposes only,’ said Michelle Neff, a spokesperson for the CIA. ‘You see something there, and then for further information, you have to go to the Web site.’

Facebook is the first networking site the CIA has used, since it puts it in direct contact with the college community, Neff said.

‘This is the first and only one of its kind,’ she said.

Steve Gardner, a freshmen advertising design major, said he looks at it as good source of information.

‘It’s potentially a positive way to stay informed, and network with others who take an active interest,’ he said.

Students like Wright are concerned that these companies will use Facebook as a way to get background information on their members.

‘I think that people need to be really careful with Facebook,’ Wright said. ‘People underestimate having stuff up there, like girls posting drunk photos, or guys in the ‘weed everyday’ group. In 20 years, if you are running for office, Facebook will be used against you.’

Lauren Hecht, a freshmen communications sciences and disorders major, said everything put on Facebook is there for anyone to use.

‘I don’t see it as that big a deal,’ she said. ‘If you go on Facebook, and put anything up, it’s all fair game.’

The Ernst & Young group states in the site’s FAQ section: ‘We are not interested in seeing your profiles. It’s not that we’re not interested in you, but we respect your privacy and understand that you use Facebook to socialize with your friends.’

The Web site also explains that, since it is not in the networks of Facebook members, the group can’t see any profiles unless the person adds Ernst & Young as a friend.

The CIA is not using its group to do background checks, Neff said.

‘We don’t engage with the members, and we don’t collect names,’ she said.

The CIA group doesn’t even use common group tools, such as event organization, discussion boards, photos or group messages. It also misses a ‘Wall,’ where group members can post their comments.

‘We don’t offer any services for group members. It’s non-interactive’ Neff said.

Ernst & Young’s Facebook group offers a considerably larger amount of information. In addition to a slideshow and a video of a recent intern conference in Orlando, Fla., it has polls, related news stories, a recruiting brochure and career search advice.

Monica Roberts, assistant director of career services at SU, warned against using these groups exclusively.

‘Information from these sites is good if the employer has a particular way of organizing their resumes,’ she said. ‘It’s fine for their company, but you shouldn’t use it outside the company.’

Roberts also said she prefers for employers to reach students through their career counselors and faculty.

‘I’d prefer (the CIA) go through our offices,’ she said. ‘We provide strong connections with the student groups, and the university’s students. But if students don’t mind it, then it’s something to be given access to.’

Greg Sexton, a freshmen finance major, joined the Ernst & Young Facebook group because he sees it as a way of getting a head start with internships for the future.

‘The group gives me information about the company, and I think for information purposes it’s more helpful than a career fair,’ he said.

Facebook is just part of the CIA’s recruitment efforts. During the summer, it began running commercials on TV, and it now advertises before movies and in print media. Last week, the CIA began a radio advertising campaign.

The CIA still sends recruiters to campuses, including SU.

‘Last year, we went to 800 different venues, and this year, it has been over 1,000,’ Neff said. ‘We like meeting the students in person.’

While both the CIA and the Ernst & Young groups are sponsored, which means they paid Facebook for using the Web site, there are career groups founded by anonymous Facebook members, prompting questions about Facebook’s security.

‘What filters are Facebook using?’ Roberts said.

Andrew Clift, a junior economics major, said he joined the CIA group to mock it. He went on to say how he believes the CIA used drug money to pay for its operations, and sold weapons to Afghanistan.

‘The CIA has been exposed for this on a number of occasions.’ he said.

According to Roberts, no students have mentioned Facebook as their source of career information. Students can, however, take self-initiative thanks to the Internet, she said.

‘The Internet puts more resources at people’s hands than ever before,’ she said.

Published on February 8, 2007 at 12:00 pm