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Laid Off: Use Social Networking Sites for Finding a Job!

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:March 3, 2009

Job fairs are great for making contacts, but social networking sites can often be more productive. It seems there are still more than a few job candidates who are yet to understand the importance of ‘keeping it tidy’ on social media sites. Here i tried to make a collection of key Social Networking Sites for job-seekers, where you can build and manage your career presence.

LinkedIn

You will focus on specific companies – you should do that, as it gives you a target for your job search and turns you into an active job researcher/seeker rather than just a person who trolls Monster.com all day long. As you identify these companies, you can learn a TON about them via LinkedIn. Search on the company name to find people who work there now or who used to work there – what sorts of backgrounds do they have? What sorts of education? Which of these target companies seem most suitable for you given your own experiences and interests?

Twitter

The free, social-networking site (www.twitter.com), founded in 2007, allows users to update their connections on what they’re doing in 140 characters or less. Many employees even hr managers from lead company such as IBM, Google and Apple, recruit in Twitter.
Looking for a job? Lately that can be rough, but besides canvassing the local paper or Craigslist, why not give Twitter a shot?

ceoworld.biz

If you’re looking to apply at a company and don’t feel comfortable contacting someone who works there now, out of the blue (and who could blame you for that), contact someone who USED to work there! Corporate alums are under no pressure to recommend you for a job, and will most likely talk very freely about their former company. This is the indirect approach – ceoworld.biz is a terrific vehicle for that. (Do the person a favor, since he or she is helping you – create a logo for his or her teenage daughter’s blog, for instance.)

Plaxo

Simply Hired, the largest job search engine and recruitment advertising network, announced today a partnership with Plaxo, a social network popular with post-college professionals. Plaxo members will now be able to use their social connections and Simply Hired’s comprehensive database of 5 million listings to find their dream job or to efficiently find great candidates for their own postings.

Facebook

My Facebook connections are working professionals, from business owners to executives to directors, and many are influential in their offices. That might mean influencers in purchasing decisions, or influencers in hiring decisions. It’s not just a place for college kids to post pictures of their last party.

Meetup

Meetup is the world’s largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.

ehow

eHow’s community is changing the way people share and learn information.

Ecademy

Ecademy enables business people to connect through online networking, at business networking events and 1-2-1 meetings – a community that advocates, connects and helps one another.

Gather

Gather has become the premier social network for the over-30 crowd. That’s because Gather is social networking grown up — the place where adults go to keep up with the people, conversations, and moments that matter.

Tweako

Tweako.com is a user-powered community website, and social network, specializing in all aspects of computing, technology, and the Internet. Our users submit hand written articles, or links to outside websites, which are guides, tutorials, service reviews, new software, general information, how-to’s, and much more.

Pixelgroovy

Pixel Groovy is the community driven way of finding and sharing the best computer learning resources & tutorials out there.

Eons

Thewhole9

The Whole 9 is a new online community where you can meet PEOPLE, create a PORTFOLIO, and find cool places to GO OUT.

Xing

Job and career opportunities on XING: Find jobs that match your profile and get found by potential employers.

Ikarma

Ryze

Ryze helps you expand your business network. Make quality business contacts, re-connect with friends — You probably know people in here already.

ziggs

Ziggs is your one-stop source for creating and managing your online brand. Market yourself on the Web and simplify how you stay in touch with people important to you.

Networkingforprofessionals

Networking For Professionals is a dynamic business networking organization that powerfully combines online business networking and real life events.

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Tagged with: .Meetup, ceoworld.biz, Ecademy, ehow, Eons, Facebook, Gather, Ikarma, job, Job Search, Linkedin, Networkingforprofessionals, Pixelgroovy, Plaxo, Ryze, social networking, Thewhole9, Tweako, Twitter, xing, ziggs

Middle East Jobs

Because of the influence this social networking had their developers are creating more tools for these sites to attract more people on using them

Holly Powell

I totally agree that social networking is truly a productive thing to do.. It has helped many and it is a means of business for others. Thanks for sharing this post. Looking forward to reading other great post.

Joanne at NurseConnect

All great resources offered here. But what about niche social networking sites focused on specific professions? I think there is major growth in this area, and really helps to target who you want to connect with. http://nurseconnect.com is a professional networking site for nurses.

CEOWORLD Magazine

How do u see LookupPage is diffrent :)

As, it gives google results so why not to use google.

Self Branding

Nice resource.
In addition to the above I also think it is important that you manage your online reputation and control (or at least try) the search results for your name search as most of potential employers "google" candidates prior to meeting them.
One way of doing so is creating online profiles on services like the above. I would also like to suggest creating a profile on LookupPage which aims at getting your profile on search engines when someone searches your name - even if it's a popular name. Check it out if you like :-)