Social Network your Way to a Great Job

Oct. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- Social networking sites may have been created for interacting with friends and family, however many tech-savvy job hunters are now using these sites to network for professional gain.  Networking for employment in the past involved attending industry functions to shake hands and pass out business cards.  Lately however, online networking has taken the lead as an invaluable tool to make contacts with decision-makers in your industry and is a great way to find employment.

Two of the most common social networking sites used today for job hunting are Facebook and LinkedIn.  Of the two, LinkedIn is the better option for most job hunters.    This site was designed specifically for professional networking and, because of it’s design, avoids some of the issues you may experience with Facebook.  Think carefully before using Facebook as a professional networking tool, as most users will post photos and make comments that may be appropriate in your social circle, but not something you want a potential boss to see.

The success of LinkedIn is tied to it’s ability to allow you to make connections.  Through your connections, you can then make secondary connections by way of those you’ve invited into your circle, and so on.  It allows you to gain access to people through mutually trusted acquaintances.  Job openings are also posted in the LinkedIn Jobs section where you can find jobs or post jobs.  Jobs posted through LinkedIn tend to be mid to upper level management positions for the more experienced job seeker.

Another way to take full advantage of LinkedIn’s ability to connect you professionally is through Groups.  By joining various Groups that relate to your area of interest, you will then to able to interact with those that may not be part of your connection circle.  These Groups are typically created for a variety of reasons; alumni, industry, recreational interest, etc.  You can post discussions for other Group members to comment on, or introduce yourself to members via e-mail.  Joining Groups allows you to target your networking to others with similar interests and experience, without having to be connected through a mutual business acquaintance.  

As with all forms of networking, examine your profile page carefully to ensure you are conducting yourself with the highest level of professionalism.  We all tend to be a bit more careless when not face-to-face, so be certain anything you post is something you would want a potential boss to examine.  Photos can be used in your profile, but use only those where you are dressed professionally and should not include spouse, kids, or pets.  

Although it is easy to stay at home and do all the work from your laptop, don’t discount the importance of face-to-face networking.  Most likely, when you do land that dream job, it will be in an office with daily personal interaction with co-workers.  Keep your interpersonal skills fine-tuned by getting out of the house and shaking hands every now and then.

It is also important not to limit yourself to just one strategy. A multi-pronged approach that involves pounding the pavement, responding to ads, resume distribution by fax and posting your resume online ensures that you leave no stone unturned.

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JobsByFax is a resume distribution service by fax. Job hunters select the types of companies & regional area they want to target then upload their resume and cover letter. JobsByFax charges a fee to deliver the resume directly to employers that match.