The Advantages & Disadvantages of Social Networking for Job Hunting

Social media formats have changed the way we do everything, from interacting with friends and family to searching for employment opportunities. While this forum has successfully opened the door to a number of new job search techniques, there are both advantages and disadvantages of social networking when it comes to the overlapping worlds of online media presence and professional work.

Advantages of Social Networking

The main pro of social media for job hunting is in the medium’s ability to reach a wide and targeted range of people. This approach allows you to significantly expand your search and open yourself to a wealth of possibilities. Other advantages include:

• Social media is fast, efficient and easy to use.
• Social networking is inexpensive when compared to other more traditional job search mediums.
• Social media has a compounding effect. Your posts can be shared repeatedly, expanding your reach beyond your own personal and professional networks.

Another pro of social networking as part of a job search is that employers are using the medium to find qualified candidates as well. Many professional sites are designed specifically for networking and building business connections, which makes social media a multifaceted tool.

Disadvantages of Social Networking

The same circumstances that create disadvantages in the world of personal social media use can apply to the business world as well.

• There’s a lack of control over what others say about your postings, which could create an unprofessional online image.
• There’s a chance that business and personal worlds can unintentionally or mistakenly overlap if you’re not careful about who can see your professional queries versus personal news.
• Some traditional professions might not embrace the informality of using social media to find a job. 

Fortunately, planning and careful execution can help you embrace the pros of social networking while mitigating the disadvantages.

Clean Up Your Act

Before you use social media forums for a job search, make sure your online presence is squeaky clean. Remove postings – both yours and others – that contain foul language, are politically charged or demonstrate poor judgment, taste, and racism or sexism of any sort. Potential employers often search your online presence as a screening tool.

• Eliminate photos that show you in a less than flattering light, such as making rude hand gestures, partying, drinking or behaving in a questionable way.
• Unfriend people who have polarizing views they are comfortable posting or tagging you in.
• Remove memes, cartoons and video links that may come across as unprofessional.

Even if you feel your social media presence is a form of free speech that should not be censored, the things you post online are a reflection of your judgment and could potentially have a negative impact on your job search.

Social Networking Venues

Looking for work via social media networks can be as simple and straightforward as writing a post to your social media contacts that informs them you’re job hunting and would appreciate leads and referrals. It can also be highly professional when you join industry-specific social media groups and lists. The language and tone should match the line of work you’re pursuing. Examples include:

Casual employment: Hey everyone – Looking to pick up a few hours of babysitting on weekends to pay off college loans. I bring my own arts and crafts projects! Let me know if you or anyone you know is interested.

Entry-level work: Hi there – Does anyone know if the new restaurant on Third is hiring? If so, do you know the manager or how much experience they’re looking for?

Professional caliber search: Dear Friends – I have decided to launch a new job search and am looking for opportunities in the marketing field. As you know, I have 15 years experience developing comprehensive, strategic campaigns for small businesses. If you know of any openings or have industry contacts you’re willing to share with me, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

If you have an online resume, profile or portfolio, include a link to it in your post.

Professional Versus Social Forums 

Some social media forums are more formal and professional than others. If you’re in a high-level profession and want to make something other than a casual outreach to your friend groups, consider joining a networking or employment-related group within your social media venue of choice. You may also find an advantage in joining social media groups related to your profession or area of interest. Not only can you find job leads, but you also gain the opportunity to meet new people in your field and develop relationships that can result in professional opportunities.

Tip

Don’t spam groups looking for work. Establish yourself as a professional and develop relationships from there.

Monitor Comments and Replies

Social media is a tricky vehicle, particularly if you mingle friends, family and colleagues. There’s nothing to stop a snarky cousin or high school pal from leaving a comment on a professionally worded post that jokingly reads, Are you telling people you still drink at work every day and steal office supplies? Such an occurrence can make you look bad by association and hinder or halt your efforts to harness the advantages of media and networking.

Take It Offline ASAP

After you establish contact with potential employers or contacts, move the conversation offline to telephone, private messaging, email or in-person meetings. Avoid public postings and back-and-forth conversations that others can see. One of the pros of social networking in a job search is your ability to cast a wide net; one of the downsides is that everyone else has access to that same net, and publicly sharing information about potential job openings could decrease your chances of securing a great opportunity.

Don’t Limit Yourself

While the advantages of media and networking include utilization of an effective and modern job search tool, not everyone uses the medium. This is particularly true in low-tech industries. Some companies still use newspaper ads, website postings and job posting services to seek out new staffers. Don’t overlook these mediums and find creative ways to combine efforts. For example, subscribe to a chamber of commerce or business group social media site, where you’ll likely see posts related to upcoming in-person networking programs and events.

Use Social Media Search Functions

Another way to utilize social media in a job search is to use search functions to seek out former colleagues, supervisors, and friends and family members who might be able to assist in your job hunt. Rather than post to their pages, send private messages. Reintroduce yourself or reconnect if it’s been a long time and then move into job-seeking mode. For example:

Hi Bob – It’s been a long time since we worked together at the ABC Car Dealership. I came across your profile and wanted to drop a note and say hello. Are you still in the business? I’m back in Boston now and looking for similar opportunities. If you know anyone looking for a seasoned salesperson, I’d appreciate the recommendation. Would love to connect in person over coffee sometime when your schedule permits.

Keep in mind, social media can provide a great deal of information about people, so use this feature to your advantage when job seeking. For example, read through an individual’s profile to learn about their personal and professional life and search for commonalities you can use in your pitch. For example:

Hi David,

I see you’re now general manager at ABC Radio in Denver. Congratulations on the move into upper management! I’m sure you’re an incredible asset to the company. Would love to talk to you about potential opportunities in sales.

Dear Susan,

I read in your post that you completed your master’s degree in chemical engineering last year. I finished mine this year as well, and I’m hoping it pays off in my new job search. Any chance we can chat over lunch next week?

Of course, social email posts can turn into irritating pleas if you’re not careful. Since you’re working to maintain a professional image, avoid complaining about previous employers, lamenting your current employment status, or sharing your personal or financial woes with online communities. Even if your last employer was a creep, you were terribly underpaid, and you now have enormous credit card debt, these are not things you need to share online or in an interview context.