At a job interview, most employers ask for a resume and references. Now, some ask for Facebook and Twitter passwords.

According to an article on PCWorld.com, in March, Congress rejected an amendment that would have given the Federal Communications Commission the power to block employers from asking job applicants for their social media passwords.

Jocelyn Caliel, a senior finance and accounting double major, said she would give up her social media passwords if an employer demanded them.

“I would allow it, just because I know that with all those programs around now, anyone can honestly see it, and so I make sure that my Facebook profile is clean,” Caliel said.

Knowing she would start searching for a job soon, Caliel cleaned up her Facebook account. She said she deleted questionable photos and posts, and even deleted friends she no longer wanted to associate herself with.

“It turned out I lost about a hundred friends. I went from 2,500 pictures to 700 pictures,” Caliel said. “I’d much rather have a job than a picture on the Internet.”

Susan Sledge, the assistant director of employer development in the office of Career Services, said she did not recommend giving out social media passwords to employers.

“If you did that, you would just be giving them the keys to your personal information,” Sledge said. “So I would definitely push back on that kind of request.”

Job candidates could offer other alternatives to giving out passwords, such as offering to be Facebook friends, Sledge said.

Career Services recommended all students set up LinkedIn profiles in order to separate their privates lives from their professional lives.Sledge said if an employer asked an applicant for his or her Facebook password, offering a link to his or her LinkedIn site would be a good alternative.

For more suggestions regarding social media usage and helpful videos, visit the Career Services website at www.careers.tcu.edu.