If you mentioned the words ‘social networking’ a decade ago, a likely image that would spring to mind would be a room full of schmoozing salesmen. But these days, things have changed. A term that's frequently used to describe the new phenomenon of connecting likeminded people online, now even when you’re catching up with friends you can turn virtual entertainment into a real world career boost.
“Social networking deepens our interpersonal relationships and lets us communicate more effectively,” says Francisco Cordero, general manager of social networking site Bebo in Australia and New Zealand. “Most of us leverage our personal contacts when reaching out for career opportunities, because our friends are our greatest source of inside information. Social networking compliments traditional job search strategies by taking them to the next level.”
And that knowledge is spreading rapidly. Thanks to the success of such websites, which also include Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn, people who were previously bashful about sharing their thoughts, ideas and photos online are beginning to realise the professional value of doing so.
According to Cordero, when it comes to building a successful online business network, there's no limit to what you can do with your profile. For example, a presentation you recently gave at a conference could be showcased on it alongside your resume as a series of still images, a slideshow, or a video. If you then created an online group for people who liked it, you could extend your personal network by interacting with them, and promote your talents even further by driving them to your professional blog.
“How we use, distribute and combine our professional information on social networking websites is up to each of us,” says Cordero. “A high degree of customisation, and the option to control how open or closed our networks are, gives us the advantage of promoting as much or as little of ourselves as we like.”
And for an extra touch of professional credibility, try linking to your public profile on your email signature and when you leave a blog comment. “Promoting your public profile helps keep the lines of communication open with colleagues, friends, and potential employers,” says Cordero.
As for raising your online presence, these days we all want to influence what people see when they look for us on search engines such as Google or Yahoo – high rankings are no longer just for the famous. To this end, many social networking websites let you promote your public profile to search engines, which can strengthen your online visibility and help you control your professional identity.
“Social networking can enhance your professional reputation and increase your chances of being considered first when people are searching for new talent,” says Cordero. “It can also provide you with a great space for exchanging business ideas, innovations, and knowledge.”
Finally, don't forget you can use social networking to get to know new colleagues or business contacts better – and faster. Knowing that you love the same embarrassing ‘80s songs, enjoy the same far-flung travel destinations, or like the same obscure cult comedies can be the perfect ice-breaker.
