Review by
Richa rd SumrallToday'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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