Social On-Line Networks

Everyone hears the horror stories of Myspace and Facebook. These sorts of online sources are rumored to have the capability of ruining the chances of you finding a job. This would occur if your inappropriateness ever found its way to your prospective employers. I am not here to argue that. If you have stupid pictures of yourself online, take them down. That’s a stupid reason to get turned down for a job. So don’t let it happen. But that is not what I am talking about today.
The importance of social networks can also be pertinent to finding a job. If used correctly, the Internet can help create opportunities for you, which you may not have had otherwise. Facebook is being used by businesses to encourage attendance at events, Myspace is being used by bands to encourage listening to their music, and now there are sites that can encourage your future.
Sites such as Linked-In are the new rage. Similar to Facebook, Linked-In allows you to create a profile of yourself and to make friends with other people. However, this is on a much more professional scale. My fellow intern Carrie has created a Linked-In page that also has a link to a webpage which displays all of her portfolio work. This way if she happens to be friends with someone important, they can take a look at her accomplishments, and then they may recommend her to someone they know who is in marketing. It’s very fascinating.
I have been meaning to focus on regular networking in one of these blogs, but really why would you bother with face to face interaction when we are the internet generation?
Besides Linked-In, there is also Twitter. This is a great way to get information and make contacts. Twitter is a site that allows you to post the equivalent of a “Facebook status” for everyone to see what you are doing. You have the ability to “follow” different companies or news sources that you want. This way you are always staying current and informed. Posting information such as “I am looking for an internship in blah blah blah” may get you results.
There are far more social networking opportunities out there, but I just wanted to point out for now that there is no reason to fear the internet during your job search. I could also go into a lot more detail, but this way you do not feel too overwhelmed. Now remember, the Internet can be your friend, or your foe. Just do not make poor life decisions and put up embarrassing stuff about yourself. That’s your fault, not the Internet’s. Stick with me.