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'How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks'

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[May 12, 2010]  "How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks." Brad and Debra Schepp, McGraw-Hill, 2010, 233 pages.

Review by
Richard Sumrall

Today's new economy demands innovative approaches to seeking employment. According to authors Brad Schepp and Debra Schepp, "Classifieds are out. It's time to LINK IN!" In their new book, "How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks," they reveal the best practices to reach employers, the different ways you can harness the power of social networks, and the tips and traps for effective online networking. Those who take advantage of social networking opportunities can better market themselves to employers, find new leads to job openings and build a network of business contacts. These opportunities are best exploited through the social networks LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

What exactly is social networking? The authors describe it as "websites where like-minded people gather in virtual communities, exchange profiles and greatly broaden their scope of friends … with the hope of connecting with people sharing their thoughts, goals and philosophies."

Probably the best social network for job seekers is LinkedIn. This network is "a professional's dream come true. It's the promised land for job hunters … that allows you to connect with millions of potential colleagues to share career expertise." This is a significant advantage when building your profile on LinkedIn; it presently contains over 35 million members, and new members sign up to this network at a rate of one per second. Members can take advantage of the site's tools and services to recruit business partners, find the perfect job, secure venture capital, hire new employees or connect with entrepreneurs of similar background and experience. The authors explain how to use LinkedIn to create your own profile, build your own LinkedIn network and use the network to find a job and conduct business.

When most people think about social networking, it is Facebook that comes to mind. With over 150 million members, Facebook is a popular way for friends, relatives and colleagues to engage in personal or social network communication. It's also an effective tool for conducting business and looking for a job. The advantages of a Facebook page are ease of use and exposure to the world's largest social network community. Facebook now includes applications and features that help job hunters and recruitment officers customize their page to improve their chances of connecting with suitable prospects. You can enhance your page with photos, pertinent content, multimedia content and specific applications (such as companies like CareerBuilder or Simply Hired).

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The most popular microblogging site is Twitter. Twitter's explosive popularity revolves around the site's singular characteristic -- members asking and answering the question, "What are you doing?" The service was originally launched for friends, family and co-workers to stay connected through short, quick answers to that question. Users are allotted 140 characters in one line for biographical information, a picture and your URL (a Web address). The key to using Twitter is to "tweet," that is, answering the question within your 140-character allotment. Job seekers use Twitter to "focus on tweets that showcase articles you've written, firsthand accounts of meetings you're attending or anything else that would demonstrate to a potential employer that you're bright, connected, ambitious and hardworking." The authors emphasize that, because of the 140-character limit, each tweet should serve as an example of who you are and what you can do.

When it was launched in 2004, MySpace was the fastest growing, most popular social network. Now surpassed by Facebook, MySpace still draws over 125 million visitors per month and remains No. 1 in the American market. Although MySpace has a preference toward creative types such as musicians, performers, artists and filmmakers, anyone seeking employment should establish their profile on the site. Since it is easy to use, prospective employers regularly search MySpace for potential applicants to fill their vacancies. It also contains the MySpace Jobs site; this feature has millions of job postings and offers video access to CareerTV.com and its interactive videos. These videos include timely information on interviewing, resume writing, hiring and firing.

"How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks" is an outstanding introduction to the world of online social networking and its role in job hunting and career changes. In this new era of employment opportunity, the authors believe that "mailing a resume and hoping for the best simply puts your fate in the hands of others. To stay in the running, you have to take control by keeping your information fresh and current -- in real time. Online social networking is the only way to go." This book is recommended to anyone searching for a job, considering a career change or looking to hire new employees.

[Text from file received from Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

 

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