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Health & Fitness

Getting Started with Facebook In Your Job Search

With 845 million monthly active users (as of December 2011), Facebook has the potential to connect you with your next job.

With 845 million monthly active users (as of December 2011), Facebook has the potential to connect you with your next job. No wonder then that job seekers are finding Facebook is an increasingly important tool in a well-rounded job search.

Using Facebook for your job search can also be integrated into your daily or weekly routine. If you already have a Facebook account, you’re likely already spending quite a bit of time on the site. Facebook is the “stickiest” social website, with users spending an average of 405 minutes (six hours) on the site each month, compared to just 17 minutes per month visiting LinkedIn.

Research studies show that anywhere from 30 to 80 percent of jobs are found through networking. The rise of “social networks” over the past five years has changed how companies recruit employees online, and how candidates build and utilize their “networks.” In fact, 89 percent of U.S. companies used social networks for recruiting in 2011. It’s estimated that 14.4 million job seekers used online social networks to find their current or most recent job.

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One significant advantage to using Facebook in your job search is if you don’t want your current employer to know that you’re considering a job change. Having a Facebook profile is not likely to get the attention of your employer.

Using social networking for your job search can be effective, especially if you have at least 150 friends on Facebook. This seems to be the “tipping point” at which online networking becomes even more effective.

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“A large group of jobseekers believe they have a better chance to land a job if they are connected, proactive, and prepared — and rightly so. These are some of the very qualities employers look for when hiring, and social networks are emerging as the meeting ground for likeminded innovative employers and prospective employees.”

– Dan Finnigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jobvite, an online recruiting platform encompassing sourcing and talent acquisition services.


Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC

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Local resident Michelle A. Riklan is a certified professional résumé writer, career coach, speaker, author, and employment interview consultant.

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