Social Networking as a Career Saftey Net
We spend the first quarter of our lives striving for qualifications, work experience and the processes required to get our proverbial foot in the door and then some wise-guy tells us "It's not what you know it's who you know" that counts.
Although it isn't spoken about in college or university, or whilst we claw our way up the rungs of our chosen career ladders; maybe this statement holds some truth?
In the past the adage would conjure images of the boss' niece being promoted to the position you had spent years working towards and thousands of dollars in tuition to obtain.
Surely in the modern workplace we like to think that kind of thing doesn't happen?
It seems that being a success is no longer reliant on having relations in high places; it is about having a virtual address book containing all of your industry's most influential movers and shakers.
Is it possible to rely entirely our contacts for all of our opportunities and job prospects? Is that a risk that anyone would consider taking?
If it were, I think ther
e would be a lot more people working jobs they hate, below their capabilities hoping that maybe today is the day an old college buddy sends a private message about a position that's opened up that they would be just perfect for.
In reality the best breaks don't always fall into your lap no matter how many Facebook friends you have; you have to make your own opportunities.
Networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are useful tools, but should not be considered a career safety net or substitute for good old fashioned networking via the telephone, letter-writing and face to face meetings.
I cannot agree more with the advice "Keep the social separate from the networking". A majority of us would be horrified at the prospect of a potential employer reading about how drunk we were last Thursday or even worse, how we pulled a sickie on Friday as a result. Maybe it's best not to use your Facebook profile for business and professional networking, for fear of censoring yourself into oblivion.
Good luck job and head hunters; remember the key to success is what you know as well as who you know, and regular status updates.
Although it isn't spoken about in college or university, or whilst we claw our way up the rungs of our chosen career ladders; maybe this statement holds some truth?
In the past the adage would conjure images of the boss' niece being promoted to the position you had spent years working towards and thousands of dollars in tuition to obtain.
Surely in the modern workplace we like to think that kind of thing doesn't happen?
It seems that being a success is no longer reliant on having relations in high places; it is about having a virtual address book containing all of your industry's most influential movers and shakers.
Is it possible to rely entirely our contacts for all of our opportunities and job prospects? Is that a risk that anyone would consider taking?
If it were, I think ther
In reality the best breaks don't always fall into your lap no matter how many Facebook friends you have; you have to make your own opportunities.
Networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are useful tools, but should not be considered a career safety net or substitute for good old fashioned networking via the telephone, letter-writing and face to face meetings.
I cannot agree more with the advice "Keep the social separate from the networking". A majority of us would be horrified at the prospect of a potential employer reading about how drunk we were last Thursday or even worse, how we pulled a sickie on Friday as a result. Maybe it's best not to use your Facebook profile for business and professional networking, for fear of censoring yourself into oblivion.
Good luck job and head hunters; remember the key to success is what you know as well as who you know, and regular status updates.
Tags & Keywords : facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Social network, networking, career