Using Social Networking in your job search

Having recruited in the local search/social networking space for years, I have been able to learn a tremendous amount about the tools that are currently available.  Social networking has become a hot way to boost your job search in recent years, and there are varying opinions about how successful they really are.

We have found that two really stick out in our day to day operations: Linked In and Execunet.  Both offer the ability to post a resume, and connect with professionals from companies across the globe. We have found that the quality of individuals who are “on” either of these two sites is tremendous.

As a job searcher, it is now considered appropriate to reach out and send an “inmail” to someone at your target company.  The days of replying to want ads in the paper and hoping for a call back seem pre-historic.  Why wait to see if HR calls you in for an interview when you can just email your perspective boss and “link in” with her?

What you must realize though, is that the rules are not clearly defined, and while some hiring managers will appreciate your spunk, others will see you potentially as needy.  There is no exact data available on how company executives view those who try to jump to the front of the line and go around company application procedures.

From my point of view, if someone has a good story to tell, and is sincerely interested in working for a company, I would take the risk of contacting the hiring manager directly and trying to set up a meeting.

As for other popular sites like Facebook and Myspace, we have not found as much business related activity as we have on other sites. However, as today’s recent college graduates hit the market, we realize that they are more likely to be on Facebook than on Linked In, so we are using these sites as well.

In short, we have noticed that many of our best candidates are coming from social networking sites, and not from standard job boards.  The axiom that your best candidates aren’t sitting on Monster holds true still, but many of them are out there on social networking sites!