Using Social Networks to Find a Job by Michael D. Hayes

Social networking sites have become meeting places for employees and employers. But before you use them, be cautious. Here are a couple of tips if you have a Facebook or MySpace page:

If you are looking a job, don't put anything on your page that you don't want a potential employer to read. Take it a step further. Tell your friends and family that you are looking for a job. Ask them not to mention the wild night at the bar in your comments section. If they are really your friends, they will respect your request. If they don't, block them as a friend. Even if you have a setting that says only your friends can see your profile, often your information is exposed if you play a game on a social networking site or use an application. You should never assume anything online is private.

So how can you use these social networks to land your first great job?

Let it be known that you are looking for a job. For example, Facebook has a status setting where you can tell what you are doing. You can say, "John Doe is looking for a job." Send out emails to your friends. Video resumes are popular. Create a video and post it on YouTube and you other social networks. Make sure it is professional and that you look professional. This will be the first glimpse an employer will have into who you really are. Look at where your friends work. If a friend is working at a company where you would like to be, ask if the company is hiring. Ask your friend to put in a good word with you. Use your blog or notes on your pages to chronicle your job search. Just remember to always stay positive. You don't want a potential employer to read your rave against another. Don't get too specific. Many human resource directors don't want people to know they are hiring. They also don't want the details of their application and interview process exposed online. You could hurt your chances of getting the job.

If you need a job, you should use every avenue available to you, including social networking. Just be sure to present yourself professionally.

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