Facebook doesn’t necessarily have a great reputation for business networking, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it to your full advantage. In many respects it possesses some of the same perks as LinkedIn, at least insofar as it allows you to display all of the qualifications, skills, and experiences that might make you a promising job candidate. The communication options afforded by Facebook are much more casual and relaxed, though, so be sure to read through all of these job tips and pointers:

• Keep in mind that, with Facebook, you have the option of basically telling the whole world everything that happens to you throughout the day—but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Be discerning, especially if you intend to use Facebook for business networking. (Facebook, in particular, is a social media platform that invites having separate business and personal accounts.) At the very least, check out your privacy settings and make sure that any embarrassing or incriminating photos are set to “None of my Networks” visibility.
• Just like with LikedIn, make sure your Facebook information is accurate and up to date. Also make sure to use keywords that recruiters might be searching for. Again, it’s all about maximizing your odds of being found via search.
• Be careful about the settings on your Wall. This is a great tool for casual communication with friends and business associates alike, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the things people write on your Wall need to be seen by prospective employers. Be careful about who you permit to write on and read your Wall.
• Take the time to set up different networks for personal and professional contacts—and after that, it will be easy to add all new Facebook friends to the appropriate network.
• Not all recruiters are going to use Facebook’s internal search capacities—some of them might search Facebook by using outside search engines, like Google. To ensure that they can find your page, make sure you check “Public Search Listing” under your privacy settings.

Download the Social Media Guide free to find even more tips to help you know what a potential employer is discovering about you—both online and off. The Social Media Guide is packed with useful advice and helpful hints to create the most effective and employer-friendly online profiles possible.

Effective use of social media can give you a tremendous advantage in your job search—in fact, it may be just what you need to find the position you truly want. While traditional job search tactics (such as responding to jobs posted online or in the newspaper) can certainly bring success, building a network—and knowing how to tap into that network—is truly your best bet.

Create a LinkedIn profile—LinkedIn is by far one of the best online websites for professional social networking. Recruiters often use this site to find prospective employees, so developing your profile should be one of your top priorities. It’s free to use and it’s pretty simple to get started: just create a profile, fill out your personal and professional information and then build your network. You can receive recommendations from colleagues, supervisors or friends that will be displayed on your profile.

Follow and tweet on Twitter—don’t be intimidated by this fantastic tool. Many employers use Twitter to recruit new employees, so it is to your advantage to “follow” employers of interest, to communicate with them and to fine tune your own Twitter page (you can even link it to your LinkedIn profile so that recruiters will know exactly how to reach you).

Start a professional blog—this will allow employers and recruiters to really get a sense of who you are (and you can showcase your portfolio, if applicable). Focus your blog on topics that are in line with the kind of job you are seeking. Subscribing to other professional blogs and posting comments will help you to build a large network and could lead to job opportunities.

Be sure to remember if you have a personal Facebook, Linkedin, or any other online profile, be sure to keep all of your information private. Recruiters often look at personal profiles to get an inside look at a prospective employee’s personality. Checking into applicant’s social media and online presence is rapidly becoming a part of business’s background screening program. So be sure to represent yourself well and clean up any pictures or blogs that may hinder your chances at finding a job.

Download the Social Media Guide free to find even more tips to help you know what a potential employer is discovering about you—both online and off. The Social Media Guide is packed with useful advice and helpful hints to create the most effective and employer-friendly online profiles possible.

Using job search websites

The Internet is your greatest tool when it comes to job searches. Thankfully, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed: there are plenty of reputable job search sites that make it easy for you to get started. Sites like www.myemployment.com can give you access to a variety of different job postings.

Don’t  limit yourself to just one job search site. Creating profiles on multiple sites will increase your chances of success and will allow you to be more proactive in your job search.

• Create your profiles—take your time when entering your profile information and be sure to check for errors. Recruiters expect to see complete profiles that accurately reflect an individual’s work experience, so it’s worth the effort to make sure your profile is well-written!
• Look for new postings every day—be proactive! While most large job search sites allow you to create and save searches for jobs that meet specific criteria, it never hurts to look through new postings and even try different search parameters.
• Educate yourself—these types of websites often include many articles with helpful advice about a wide range of job search topics. You might learn something valuable that could be useful at your next interview!
• Use the forums—don’t be afraid to join in on forum discussions with other site members. Ask questions, share advice and build your professional network..com

Individualizing your search

While job search websites can provide you with daily job listings from various sources, there’s another tactic you might want to try: targeting individual companies. Even if an employer has not posted a position on a search site such as www.monster.com, a job may still be available.

Think carefully about your job search. What kinds of companies interest you? Are there any specific organizations about which you’ve heard good things? Do your skills and expertise allow you the flexibility of applying for multiple job types?

It is worth your while to do a little research and to make a list of individual businesses to which you can apply.  Once you’ve compiled your list, we recommend the following:

• Go online—sometimes a company may simply post career opportunities on its own website. Check the company’s site—if you don’t see anything available, call to inquire about possible positions.
• Check local opportunities—if you are interested in applying at a local business, why not get dressed up and apply in person? Ask to speak to the person in charge of hiring (or, if it’s a large company with multiple departments, ask to speak to the appropriate manager). Be sure to bring your cover letter and current resume!
• Be proactive—if there are no current openings, you may be able to leave a cover letter and resume on file—this could lead to an opportunity down the road.

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/jobseekerguide/. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.