Use the Internet to Find a Job – Part 5: Making the Most of Facebook in Your Job Search

1. Do not put anything on your profile that you do not want your future boss to see. Make sure all the information is valid and matches your LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.
2. Complete your profile so it matches your resume and CV. Even though Facebook may not seem like a traditional way to search for candidates, recruiters are still looking for the traditional candidate items: personality traits; accomplishments; education history and dates; employment history and dates; volunteer work; memberships and associations.
3. Make your profile photo a nice, professional headshot of you. Delete all unprofessional and “incriminating” photos. Even if they have not met you face-to-face, your online photo gives a recruiter the first impression. Post photos of you doing community service, participating in sporting events, conducting speeches or conferences, being involved in church fundraisers, teaching or reading to kids, helping animals, helping the elderly, traveling (learning about new cultures) – anything employers look upon positively!
4. You can be professional and interesting at the same time. Let your true personality shine through in your profile. Show your humorous, fun-loving self; just keep it clean and non-offensive! Employers want fun employees; they do not want overly sarcastic, rude or too opinionated employees.
5. Let people know that you are looking for a new job. There are so many people on Facebook, and so many people looking for work, this is no longer an issue. The people in your network want to help you, because they want you to help them if they lose their job! Update your status to show everyone how you are actively seeking work: updating your CV, making copies of your resume, meeting with recruiters, interviewing (but do not say with whom). People love to see what others are doing (that is why the “What are you doing?” exists! They also love to comment! (The more comments you have, the better! It shows that people are interested in you.) Your updates may prompt referrals and recommendations.
6. Show your knowledge to your network. Just like updating your status, this is an indirect method to attract your network to your skills and expertise in your chosen industry. By sharing interesting information and links on your Wall, you can build up a profile of being a knowledge expert in your industry. It shows you are passionate and interested in your industry, and serious about presenting yourself in the right way.
7. In addition to searching Facebook for people from different industries and schools, try tools like Wink.com which search locations and industries on Facebook profiles. Use relevant keywords, job titles, brand names and buzz words from your target industries. Become their friend and keep in contact with them and find relevant friends in their networks.
8. Join relevant professional groups on Facebook. They are a great entry point to meet people with similar interests. They want to share information and experiences with you; that is what the groups are for!
9. Actively engage and share information with people. Get involved with the conversations going on within your network, shown on your news feed. Add some opinion and meaningful answers. It helps build credibility and presence and shows that you care. Ask questions too, it helps start conversation and encourages responses. If people who do no know you personally see this, then the first thing they do, is read your profile. The more people look at your profile, the more they have you in mind, which is good for when a job comes up!
10. Grow your network, so obtain more secondary and third level contacts. They can get you a job just as easily as a first level contact; it is all about the people that they know! In your job search, finding people on Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter needs to be a regular function: targeting relevant people and expanding your professional (not social) network.