Get on Facebook and LinkedIn already…
How many times do I have to say it…network, network, network.
Networking is how you find a job today folks. You’re in trouble if you’re just sending out resumes and waiting for a reply. (OK, maybe a tiny group of you out there have landed a job recently by doing this, but it’s not the norm.)
Everyone else needs to take out their socialization hat and start shaking some hands, real and virtual hands.
A recent study adds fuel to the Internet social/professional networking fire for job seekers.
Staffing company Robert Half International surveyed 150 top dogs at large companies and found 62 percent of those polled believe sites like LinkedIn will be a useful tool for them in the next three years, and 35 percent said social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace will also be a resource for them.
Executives were asked, “Which of the following technology tools do you believe will be most useful in your firm’s recruiting efforts in the next three years?”:
· Professional networking sites: 62%
· Social networking sites: 35%
· Video resumes: 20%
· Second Life: 7%
· None of these: 15%
· Other/don’t know: 10%
“Maintaining and developing professional contacts has always been a vital job search strategy, and networking websites are another vehicle for doing so,” said Max Messmer, Robert Half International’s CEO and author of Job Hunting For Dummies®, 2nd Edition. “Networking sites can be used to identify new career opportunities, create online profiles that highlight one’s skills and experience, and build a roster of business contacts over time.”
I know quite a few people that have yet to join any of these sites and I always tell them, “do it now!”
I know, there are some issues with these sites. They have technological glitches, and often you get tons off useless emails, or dumb trivia games your friends want you to play. But it’s time to join the cyber networking party already.
I’ve written before about how hiring managers want a known entity these days, especially during tough economic times. They want a recommendation, or at least some sort of connection to you. What better way that finding someone they know in your LinkedIn or Facebook contact list?
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Eve, did you ever decide whether it would be worth it (in your opinion) to pay for the premium services for sites like LinkedIn?
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
at this point it doesn’t seem worth it for me to pay for the service, especially since i got such shotty service for the basic plan. i’m able to reach out to contacts in LinkedIn via email once i read their bios. i just Google search individuals and that usually works. the one thing i would love to do is be able to see who was looking at my LinkedIn profile, but that you have to pay for. i may end up ponying up the money at some point. not compelled now. it could be critical for someone hunting for a job. what are your thoughts on this? do you feel you need more from the service a paid subscription would provide?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I find myself looking at the issue much the way you are. I’m relatively new to LinkedIn (I had been invited a couple of times over the past year, but avoided it until about a month ago). I’m just not sure there’s enough benefit for the cost.
I typically work with my closest friends and contacts for information (even without LinkedIn), and usually limit my job searches to those places where I have some sort of inside contact (so as to point my resume to the right people and to bypass the gatekeepers). I started using LinkedIn recently because I’m contemplating a career change (out of information technology and into business management/strategic leadership).
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
I agree that online social networking is increasingly becoming a popular way of finding a job. But what does that mean for blue collar workers?
I’m a fourth year journalism student at Rhodes University , South Africa. I’m working on a project which uses the idea of the online social network and tries to apply that to domestic workers, those who are ordinarily excluded from this avenue of job-seeking. I’m trying to find out if online social networking can be used by everyone. I would love your thoughts on this. Also , if you are intersted in the project : http://letwwwbeyournewboss.wordpress.com
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Hey Nicole,
What a great question. We always think about white collar jobs when we write about LinkedIn and other networking sites.
But can they be used by domestic workers, people in the trades, assembly line workers?
My guess right now is that there’s is not a lot for these types of workers on networking sites because there aren’t a lot of these workers on the sites.
LinkedIn did not become a force until office workers started putting their profiles up on the site. Now there is a critical mass of Corporate employees and they can network with eachother.
If a critical mass of blue collar workers join and put their profiles online, I don’t see why the site couldn’t be used as a valuable resource to tell eachother about new gigs, to discuss job-related issues, to network, why not.
What a great question though. I may write about it.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
and also nicole, let’s say someone wants to work at a certain factory. the factory owner, or plant managers may have LinkedIn accounts. That’s a great way to connect with them.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Hi! LinkedIn is a great way for professionals to network. Just go to my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylstevenson and ask to link to my network of more than 7,000,000 professionals. If you don’t have a profile it only takes a couple of minutes to create your own. I accept all invitations and look forward to meeting you. I also strive to help all of the people in my network, so if you have any questions, I will be happy to help. What are you waiting for? Let’s link now!
Jeff
April 26th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hey Telleve
The big problem with online social networking sites like LinkedIn is that logically you need internet accessibility which is often the problem for most blue collar workers.
You’re right when you say there aren’t many of these workers on networking sites but that’s because of internet accessibility. I’m starting to think that mobile social networks are perhaps the way to address this divide as particularly in a South African context more people have a cell phone than internet access.
Perhaps mobile networking services like The Grid (http://www.thegrid.co.za/) could be useful for blue collar workers to network and find work.