We had an e-mail sent out to students by the College careers department today. Given it's content, I wasn't too sure about posting it - but felt it needs comment. And, to comment, you need to read it full.

"Dear All

As we move into the main recruitment season we feel we need to inform you of the following

You will have no doubt read, heard or seen that prospective employers can (and do so they tell us) look at pages on Face book / MySpace and similar networking / blog websites to check on candidates profiles.

They will also monitor use of it in work/vacation schemes.

There has been at least one case of a training contract being rescinded because the list of personal interests on the cv did not match those on the same person's Facebook profile - the interests on both lists were innocent enough, but critically the lists did not match -  and another example where, during the interview for a paralegal role, the candidate was presented with pages printed from their blog and was asked to explain their derogatory comments about lawyers, their classmates and a number of their university tutors. Just as you research firms online, they research you!

We would strongly recommend that you are extremely careful in your use of such sites and that you exercise some forethought about your comments if you do use them."

It's a very scary thought. My blogging could cost me my job. Is it a bit scaremongering though?

I've got to say, probably not. I do know of someone who participates in some motorsport discussion forums that I also do. She got a job with a race team, but her contract wasn't continued in part due to her contributing her own views on the forums. And this was from behind a pseudonym.

Looking at facebook, it's generally pretty secure. Unless you're a crack hacker (and I'm prepared to state that recruitment teams in law firms aren't, especially as it's probably illegal), you can't view any old persons profile. You can restrict what you want to allow people to see - from those in your same 'network' (eg University or Geographic) to your friends (and only adding people you know will ensure that this won't be compromised).

It's possible, if you're not careful with your security settings, that a wide range of people can find out about you. Not just employers who may or may not try and research their employees; but people with malicious intent. It's not a good idea, just generally, to publish your personal information around the world.

Blogging's different though. It's someone to express yourself. Whilst Asp Bites originally started off as a "This is what I'm doing" blog, it's developed, and now I explain my opinion on various matters constantly. Some which, it's fair to say, are controversial.

I do try and maintain some degree of anonymity here - I can't recall ever referring to anyone by name. Some blogs are highly anonymous. But, it's always possible, with a bit of research, to piece things together. It's happened to more high-profile bloggers such as Mark Myers.

Which leads onto a separate point - some bloggers are almost encouraged my employees to continue with their hobby. Take Tom Reynolds. The London Ambulance Service press office now deal with people wanting to speak to "Tom".

I imagine that finding a prospective employees blog can also help them get a job. A well written blog, well thought out, can show intelligence. And a hobby outside of work/study.

OK, a blog purely saying "I hate..." won't help anyone. And it also appears that some issues can bring the employer, if known, into disrepute. See Niall Kennedy or La petite anglaise.

Putting a personal twist on this, where does this leave Asp Bites?

Well, a scare story isn't going to stop me saying what I think. And facebook has got many plus points.

But, perhaps I will think about things a bit more. Check my security settings on facebook. Keep things a bit more anonymous on the blog. But, most of all, keep a high standard of blogging. After all, I'm fairly sure I can't be fired just because I disagree with a Government policy, or think the comments of a celebrity are a bit daft.