How to Use Social Networking Sites in Your Job Search
Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook can do a lot more than put you in touch with people who like the same rock bands or movies you do. They can promote your career or product, help you find a job, or promote your “brand” as a business professional. While both Facebook and MySpace certainly aid in a job search, there are subtle differences between them.
MySpace career networking focuses mainly on artists, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers, photographers, authors and other creative or show business types. The few real estate agents, financial advisors and non-entertainment businesses on the site either have few profile views or don’t check on their page often.
The site has a job board that contains openings in all kinds of industries, so you needn’t be the next Tila Tequila to get hired via MySpace. Recent offerings consist of technical, IT, scientific, medical and manufacturing jobs– namely anything you’d find on your local newspaper’s Web site. Sponsored companies include Chase and A T & T in addition to retailers and fast food outlets like Home Depot and McDonalds. The MySpace jobs video section features tips on how to ace a job interview and write the perfect resume, plus profiles of top companies. If you’re looking for a job on MySpace, it’s a good idea to tailor your profile to reflect that.
Whether you have a Facebook or MySpace profile, remember that anything you post–photos, video, text or music–will be very hard to banish off cyberspace permanently. So if you want a fun, personal page, consider using a pseudonym (or making the profile private), and be careful about positing any pictures that may come back to haunt you. A survey conducted by CollegeGrad.com. reveals that 47 percent of students polled changed (or plan to change) their social networking pages to be businesslike and employer friendly. Obviously, recent news stories about students, employees and teachers being disciplined because of their MySpace or Facebook profiles have scared many grads “straight.” Bragging about drinking and partying exploits might offend future employers as much as parents and neighbors, and many high school and college students are now considering this when editing their online profiles.
While MySpace is hit or miss for non-artsy types, Facebook attracts everyone from teens to business professionals. With a cleaner, more streamlined layout, it’s harder to overindulge in cutesy graphics or videos on Facebook. It’s no surprise that many authors, marketing professionals and journalists concentrate more on their Facebook pages than their MySpace ones, as Facebook allows people to concentrate on the nitty-gritty of networking without extraneous temptations. There are Facebook Groups and profiles for accountants, financial advisors, catering companies and school psychologists. A quick search reveals Facebook certainly has a higher instance of users in their 30s and older, with a more professional selection of groups for business, scientific and historical interests than MySpace. Even most profile photos have more in common with the business networking site LinkedIn than the youth and show-biz oriented MySpace.
Regarding of your ultimate job search, networking or career goals, MySpace and Facebook are great assets to your personal brand. Study profile pages posted by people with goals similar to yours, and then put your own spin on the formula. Update your page regularly, and communicate with friends using comments, blogs and bulletins to keep your name and skills within plain view of potential employers and business associates.
