People often ask me: why they have no choice but to manage their online images on social media, including Facebook. In their minds, Facebook is an exclusive place for their private lives, and they want to keep it that way. For professional connections, they will use other social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Academia.edu. My advice to these people is: Please think again! First of all, there is no such thing of “privacy” on the Internet. Second, they are not leveraging the power of Facebook in job search and career advancement.
As suggested in this ABC News video, the number of Facebook users has reached three quarters of one billion. Most people probably know more “friends” on Facebook than in their real lives. When 60% of job seekers find jobs through someone they know, why can’t people, especially job seekers, use their connections on Facebook to land a new job or a career? In order to find a job through people’s connections on Facebook, however, job seekers do not have to use the Facebook ads --- even though this method could be very cost-effective. If job seekers do not have a budget for Facebook ads, they can begin with building a “public” professional profile on Facebook and then engage in intellectual communications with the potential employers and their friends.
Some may argue that they are extremely satisfied with their jobs and have no interest of switching employers. Accordingly, they see no reasons of “giving up” their private lives on Facebook. I feel very happy for them, but I believe that opportunities favor those who are prepared. It is really up to the person who chooses between privacy and efficacy. What would you choose? For what reason(s)?
For more discussions of using social media in job search, please check out the following discussion:
One Has No Choice But to Manage His/Her Online Image
Background Check on Social Media: Now Is a Serious Business
References:
Picture was downloaded from Agent-X.com.au.
As suggested in this ABC News video, the number of Facebook users has reached three quarters of one billion. Most people probably know more “friends” on Facebook than in their real lives. When 60% of job seekers find jobs through someone they know, why can’t people, especially job seekers, use their connections on Facebook to land a new job or a career? In order to find a job through people’s connections on Facebook, however, job seekers do not have to use the Facebook ads --- even though this method could be very cost-effective. If job seekers do not have a budget for Facebook ads, they can begin with building a “public” professional profile on Facebook and then engage in intellectual communications with the potential employers and their friends. Some may argue that they are extremely satisfied with their jobs and have no interest of switching employers. Accordingly, they see no reasons of “giving up” their private lives on Facebook. I feel very happy for them, but I believe that opportunities favor those who are prepared. It is really up to the person who chooses between privacy and efficacy. What would you choose? For what reason(s)?
For more discussions of using social media in job search, please check out the following discussion:
One Has No Choice But to Manage His/Her Online Image
Background Check on Social Media: Now Is a Serious Business
References:
Picture was downloaded from Agent-X.com.au.
It is not surprising that now three quarters of one billion people are now doing some kind of social media that even I cannot find anyone around me who's not doing any social media.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, people saying that there must be a privacy in social media and site such as Facebook should not be used to find a job are not folowing the trend of these days. If they want private place for comunication, they can keep their posts secret and make only available to their friends or they can use another site that are not open to everyone.
I would say social media is another form of resume. I cannot think of any other source that someone can show what he or she is capable of without any money. People can find all kinds of people with all different jobs. For good example, my sister got a job with social media. Actually she was not intend to get a job. She was already working on CJ at food product department which is one of the biggest company of Korea and she wanted to quit job. When she decided to quit it, restaurant developing department of CJ scouted her because of her impressive blog. She was quite a famous bloger who posts about food issues, restaurants, her own recipes, etc.
Of course, PR in the social media can be double-edged sword. there must be a possible danger in it since not every three quarters of one billion must be a good man. People might show them in a wrong place while doing it. However, it worth taking a risk I think. Unless all social media are closed, it would be a wise idea to use it for seeking job.
By Jaewon Lee
Thank you very much for sharing a real story of finding jobs through social media, Jaewon. I like what you said. I look forward to hearing more comments from you in the near future.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how social media is being talked about in the news almost every single day. Whether they are talking about some new site coming out, something that was mentioned on facebook, or commented on a tweet made by a certain individual, privacy is one word that is mentioned in every single article. I have a facebook and a twitter and I am aware that even though I lock or customize my profiles, nothing is ever completely, 100% private. I still believe though that social media will help any individual who may be looking for a job or looking to even follow someone/something unparticular. Personally, I have not used facebook to find a job but I cannot say that I won't in the future. When you are on a social media site, you have to be careful of what you post and blog because one again, nothing is completely private. As the article says, it saves a lot of money using the internet to get your business across or looking for jobs. I completely see how this would be true and I would never tell someone not to use them. You just have to be smart.
ReplyDeleteCarly Sigel
I think personally I would choose privacy over efficacy, and also believe most young Americans my age group would agree as well. Even though I am aware that not everything is completely private once on the internet, it seems that my generation and lower prefer Facebook as a "social" network to chat and catch up with friends rather than work and business. I believe it would be better to keep it that way and keep other job search sites separate. Again, the fact that not everything is 100% private can mess up those chances for future employers doing back up research on you and seeing something they think inappropriate and unprofessional. People just have to be smart about these type of things.
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