Q. Many of my coworkers are going to social networking seminars. They come back telling me I need to get on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn or that my career will suffer. How essential is social networking really to advancing my career?

A. Having a Web site or some online business presence is extremely helpful to advancing your career. However, no one you work with really needs to know where you are every minute of the day or see that picture of you drunk at your last party.

The Internet has created a unique problem and opportunity for our careers. On one hand, people in China can find out about our product, service or background. On the other hand, your boss can see you dancing in your bathing suit while you chug a beer.

If you are going to have information about your personal life on the Internet, you need to carefully consider the impression it makes on people you work with. Sure, it's a kick to post your vacation adventures online, then again what do these photos or information tell people about you as a professional.

You also want to be aware that what is on the Internet (unlike Las Vegas) does not stay on the Internet. Anyone who is anywhere can find anything you post to the Internet. If you don't want your address to be public information or the city you live in, delete that fact from your postings. If you don't want your love life to be a hot topic around the water cooler, keep pictures of you and your latest squeeze on your refrigerator not online.

Before you hit the upload or send button, you should reflect upon the fact that Internet postings are like The Rolling Stones, they will be around forever. If you can't live with what you are about to upload, hit the delete key.

Once you've carefully considered your privacy, your professional reputation, and the consequences of putting yourself on the Internet, brainstorm what skills, experience and education you can offer an employer.

Then use the Internet to showcase why you are the best thing since sliced bread. Everyone (including employees) can build a simple Web page. If you have a budget, a Web designer can really polish up your online image with a wide variety of bells and whistles.

The real challenge of the Internet is it forces us to examine the boundary between our personal and professional lives. If we present one façade at work and the opposite personality at home, we have to carefully filter our real selves or we'll hurt our careers. If who we are at work and home is congruent, we can reveal more of our private side.

Eventually the Internet may have the positive social effect of making us realize we are all more transparent then we think. Imagine a business world where deception is impossible, the truth is obvious, and accountability unavoidable.

Q. I'm tired of not being appreciated! Is there anything wrong with telling my coworkers and boss I'm sick of being taken for granted?

A. Yes, delete the part where you accuse your team of hurting you and focus on letting them know what you want.

Daneen Skube, Ph.D., executive coach, trainer, therapist and speaker, also appears as the FOX Channel's "Workplace Guru" each Monday morning. She's the author of "Interpersonal Edge: Breakthrough Tools for Talking to Anyone, Anywhere, about Anything" Hay House, 2006.

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