Social Media

Social Media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn offer access to the world, literally. Since starting my Facebook page in 2008 I have reconnected with hundreds of friends from high school and childhood that I may have otherwise never heard from again. Since actively using LinkedIn, I have doubled my network, and continue to connect to new professionals and groups on a daily basis. While all of these websites are great for socializing, they are also superior resources when you're in the job market.

What most people do not consider, is the lack of anonymity these websites provide. Paying attention to your privacy settings is crucial. On personal websites, such as Facebook and MySpace, you have the option to control who has access to your page and who doesn't. On Facebook for example, there is a "Friends Only" setting, which will allow only those individuals who you have granted access to, to view your photos, comments and posts. Another point that most people do not take into consideration is WHO you allow to be your "friend" on these social websites. A simple rule of thumb, if you have not had a face to face meeting with someone, do not allow them access to your social media page.

In addition to controlling the content people have access to, keep in mind that your "profile" photo will usually be accessible to everyone who searches for you. If you are actively job searching, I would recommend not posting a profile picture that contains anything inappropriate, whether legal or illegal. A picture is a small window into your lifestyle, and this may prevent even a phone call for an interview.

The following link (http://www.hiredmyway.com/blog/category/using-social-media-in-your-job-search/) allows a unique viewpoint of such social media sites, hopefully you'll find it as helpful as I have.

Who am I?

I am by no means an expert, nor will I pretend to be. What I offer here are merely my opinions and thoughts, and a few "tricks" I have picked up along the way. However, I have joined a group of elite professionals who are experts, and have taught me quite a bit about job searching and how to be effective. Here are a few items I have learned from this elite group, and will expand on during future posts:

1) Always look presentable
2) Market yourself
3) Looking for work is a full time job
4) Network
5) Be open to options

The above 5 topics are posts I will make in the days to come. I hope that someone, other than myself, will find this information useful. Looking for employment can be a daunting task, especially when you are seeking longevity and not just a paycheck. BUT, persistence and patience will pay off!