2008 Woodie Awards
Students impair future careers by illegal downloading
Erica Deibler
Issue date: 9/26/06 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Remember the days of driving to a music store, ambling around for while before finding your next favorite CD, then actually going to the register to pay for it before taking it home? Those days vanished with the introduction of iTunes and Napster. Now kids just download their favorite songs right at their computers and never even have to leave their houses. Even after Napster's downfall, this practice continues every day.
Although there has been a lot of talk in the past couple of years about illegal downloading and its consequences, the fact remains that many people, especially of college-age, continue to download music, movies, software and television shows. The consequence of jail-time is of little concern for most because the actual percentage of people who download and go to jail remains small. However, this activity may now affect people in a way never expected.
A recent college graduate's job search may become even more difficult due to the increased awareness of this issue. Employers now state that an applicant's job may depend on whether or not he or she illegally downloads digital software from the Internet, according to a survey of 954 corporate managers who hire or supervise recent college graduates and 523 people who graduated from college within the past five years. BusinessWeek Research Services conducted the study in February and March of 2006.
The study found that 85 percent of hiring managers say that an applicant's attitude toward file sharing would impact their decision. Also, if this behavior starts after the applicant has already been hired, most managers state that the consequences could be as harsh as termination.
"Students need to know that they may be putting their future careers in jeopardy if they are illegally downloading. The consequences of illegal downloading and file sharing may impact the hiring process," says Diane Smiroldo, vice president of public affairs for Business Software Alliance (BSA).
Although there has been a lot of talk in the past couple of years about illegal downloading and its consequences, the fact remains that many people, especially of college-age, continue to download music, movies, software and television shows. The consequence of jail-time is of little concern for most because the actual percentage of people who download and go to jail remains small. However, this activity may now affect people in a way never expected.
A recent college graduate's job search may become even more difficult due to the increased awareness of this issue. Employers now state that an applicant's job may depend on whether or not he or she illegally downloads digital software from the Internet, according to a survey of 954 corporate managers who hire or supervise recent college graduates and 523 people who graduated from college within the past five years. BusinessWeek Research Services conducted the study in February and March of 2006.
The study found that 85 percent of hiring managers say that an applicant's attitude toward file sharing would impact their decision. Also, if this behavior starts after the applicant has already been hired, most managers state that the consequences could be as harsh as termination.
"Students need to know that they may be putting their future careers in jeopardy if they are illegally downloading. The consequences of illegal downloading and file sharing may impact the hiring process," says Diane Smiroldo, vice president of public affairs for Business Software Alliance (BSA).
RSS Feed
Be the first to comment on this story