Throughout college, Facebook enables you to shamelessly stalk your crush, share pictures from last night’s raging party, and send passive aggressive notes to your roommate asking her to throw out her trash…again.

So who would have thought that the same social networking site that allows you to “poke” someone could also help advance your professional career? That is, if you know the content to include on it…and the things best left in a shoebox under your bed.

The article “Facebook and Professional Networking” by Alison Doyle on About.com suggests ways to best utilize the site for professional purposes:

• First, make a decision whether to keep Facebook social or expand your use.
• If you decide to use Facebook for professional networking, take a close look at your Profile and decide what you want business contacts or prospective employers to see - and what you don't.
• Create a simple profile (or clean up with your existing one) with minimal graphics and widgets.
• Limit the photos you post.
• Post content relevant to your job search or career. 
• Use Facebook email to build relationships with your Friends.
• Choose your Friends wisely. Remember your Friends can see information about your other Friends in your Profile.

It is also important to note that even if you choose to keep your Facebook account for personal use, an increasing amount of employers are performing their own “background checks” on job candidates via the internet. Ergo, they could log into Facebook and find your page. Inappropriate wall posts and a few tactless pictures are all an employer needs to see to pull you out of the running for a position. Be sure to adjust your settings to keep your information private from the public.

In general, however, it is wise to give your Facebook profile a “G rated” makeover. Remove any incriminating pictures and delete any crude content. Design the page to represent the enthusiastic, recent college graduate that you really are now. After all, what happens in college…