Posted By: Phil Rosenberg In: Networking Which is better for your job search, Facebook or LinkedIN?
The case for LinkedIN:
Which is better for your job search, Facebook or LinkedIN?
The case for LinkedIN:
Strengths:
LinkedIN allows you to build a massive network, and allows you to limited contact with any other user directly through its InMail feature
You see 3 degrees of separation
LinkedIN has a widget that allows you to superimpose your network over Monster and CareerBuilder ads – so you can reach line managers and bypass HR.
LinkedIN has a similar widget to superimpose mini profiles over Outlook emails
The LinkedIN Answers is a great way to find your audience, and participate in discussions
Weaknesses:
It’s tough to broadcast messages to groups in LinkedIN, or to make messages viral
Yahoo groups are stronger and more functional than LinkedIN groups
LinkedIN is built to acquire a network, more than for communicating with a network
Communication with LinkedIN contacts are best done through good old email, after initial LinkedIN introduction
LinkedIN doesn’t coordinate well with blogs, nor have customizable apps…but we are told these are coming soon
The case for FaceBook: Strengths:
FaceBook is built for better communication within FaceBook. It’s easy to stay in contact with your network without jumping to outside email apps
On Facebook, you can directly email anyone, even if you aren’t connected to them
FaceBook has thousands of customizable apps, allowing recommendations, 2nd degree of separation, CRM like features, business cards
FaceBook has customizable control to allow (or block) access to your information by group or individual (so you can block all your job search information from people within your company)
FaceBook has viral messaging features, which is great for spreading the word
FaceBook is excellent in blog integration, photo sharing and tagging, video sharing, and groups. Facebook integrates well with Flickr & YouTube
68 million members and growing…fast. It’s 3x the size of LinkedIN
Weaknesses:
FaceBook is over-sensitive to spam, to the point of being ridiculous. If you template introductions, your account gets flagged at about 10 intro emails per a day. However, if you send friend requests without a note, it’s not considered spam. Go figure…
FaceBook recommendations, questions/answers are still weak, due to low adoption rates
FaceBook still has a social atmosphere, which means you’ll have friends that send cutsey messages to all of their friends…3 times a day. But you can block this feature
FaceBook really only gives you 1 level of separation, you can get to a second level with heavy lifting through a FaceBook app
Others can send you pictures, or add pics to your photo album. This means you have to regularly manage your online reputation, especially your public profile and photo album.
Common to Both:
Both LinkedIN & Facebook have solid job boards
Both have a status feature that lets you broadcast one-line status texts, like a built in Twittr
Both have voice integration with Skype and Jaxtr
Both are great for catching up with old classmates, or co-workers from past lives.
Both have introduction features
Neither has an easy integration of multiple social networks, phone or email lists, or contact management. Everything has to be exported and manipulated in Outlook, so it’s very limited, time consuming, & tricky
Summary: Both are winners, and a winning strategy is to use both, because they each have their strengths in helping you build your network and subject matter expertise. I invite my contacts to both LinkedIN (www.linkedin.com/in/philrosenberg) and Facebook (http://profile.to/philrosenberg/) …feel free to invite me to your networks on both.
Is it true that people make mistakes and deserve another chance? If thats true, why is it that I'm being overlooked by emploters because I have a felony? I have experience, polite, hard working, and a preasure to be around (so I'm told :P) I am at the end of my rope because I'm not getting the opportunity to show my real skills because closed-minded employers are unable to get past the dreaded "F" word on my applications. I could omit it, but my honesty wont allow me. Instead I would rather put it all on the table and be hired on the things that really matter like my experience and ability to lead. I guess I'll just keep on trying until someone out there gives this man a chance. Thank for the sounding board. Until next time.....Isaac
Posted by: Galina Blanken
I really need help with professional networking. I have three degrees in the health care field, but NO JOB.
Posted by: Steve Drake
I have over 20 years in compliance and operational risk, and 35 years in banking and NO JOB. So it isn't uncommon today. Companies aren't looking at people who are not where the job is located, since relocation is no longer typically offered. And frankly, all the networking I've done on LinkedIn and other sites hasn't produced. People have their heads down right now protecting their own jobs.
Posted by: Laura Wallace
I thought I would have a better chance of employers seeing my career profile I posted on nesstaffing.com. After uploading my application, answering nearly 20 interview questions, designing a cover letter and placing reference information and other networking links on their site, it was all removed by the administrators, I guess of nesstaffing. I feel really bad about losing all of that information, especially when I logged in to upgrade my information for more exposure. I feel let down and suppose I will have to look elsewhere for networking possibilities. I wish the best for all of my fellow job seekers out there.
Posted by: Greg Papin
It seems to me that just finding a job is a bigger challenge now. Being capable, experienced and willing to be fully dedicated to a new employer doesn't seem to impress the HR folks. It amazes me that we as job seekers spend hours trying to create the perfect resume and the time devoted to reviewing it is just 10 to 15 seconds per resume. Best wishes to my fellow job seekers, I believe there is a job out there for everyone who wants to work. I think networking with friends and past co-workers is probably the most helpful way to go. Good luck to all.-Greg
Posted by: Shannon
Isaac:Do you know for sure that it is your felony that is causing you to be overlooked? It may depend on what your felony was for. You are entitled to ask the employer why they are denying you employment. Check with your local department of workforce development. They can help you out with that question. Good luck to you!
Posted by: vesselin kavalov
I wish more "info"s are like this - 1/2 page, right to the point, in 1 minute I can assess my situation with respect of the issue at hand, make a decision and take an action and be done with! In this particular case my action was NOT to take an action - I am not signing up for Facebook (despite the "peer pressure" ;) - the Cons far outweigh the so-called Pros (in my case). Thanx for the great job!
Posted by: Timika Adams
I'm a 25 year old woman; I was wrongfully terminated about a month ago. They told me that they would deny my unemployment and I wouldn't get it and that's just what happened. Now I'm about to lose my apt and everything I have worked for. Finding a job is so hard and I have had no luck. I don't know what I'm going to do.
Posted by: Paula Ouellette
I was wrongfully terminated from a 28 yr career and have been unemployed for a year now. I have applied for over 200 jobs, posted my resume (which I have redone numerous times) on every job site possible and never get a response or call back for an interview. After reading this article, I truly believe that my former boss or subordinates have sabatoged me on the internet. I am at my wits end and really discouraged. Is there any way that I can find out what's out there besides spending big dollars or joining Facebook?
Posted by: Patrick Brewer
I'm with you Paula. I'm a 44yr old male who lost his job in April. I'm going on 3 months searching and already going stir crazy and getting frustrated. Tons of resumes and cover letters sent out and very few responses. I refuse to sign up on facebook or spend money on sites for distribution......especially when my budget is so tight now. I lost a job back in 05 to a company that sold out to an overseas competitor. I was still recovering from that setback. I must say though it is comforting knowing I'm not alone in this. I will be glad when I can sleep at night again! Good luck to all.
Posted by: Anita
Dear Isaac,Don't give up! There are employment agencies who have special workers to help felons get a job like Safer Foundation, etc. I saw on TV that this guy from Sater Foundation was a felon for selling drugs and he saw this guy one day and explained to him that he had a felony and the Supervisor would not hire him and he did not give up. He kept on asking that same guy for a job. After the third or fourth try that guy decided to give him a chance. He made sure he was early and worked hard every day. Then he went to a technical school and got his degree and now he is really getting paid. If he did it, so can YOU! Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself. It is a waste of time and it keeps you from focusing on the prize. You can do it. I know you can if you apply your self. Congradulations in advance!
Posted by: Wanda Gaddis
So what is the best internet networking site??I am not that technical so getting a little lost out here! Any comments would be appreciated.Thanks
Posted by: Melissa Nelson
that was very interesting to read.
Posted by: Larry Tessari
I think the use of search engines and other investigative procedures by hiring managers and others has increased to the point where it is no longer reasonable or acceptable. Hiring managers are using items not related to job performance to disqualify applicants in ways that are abusive and threatening. Our government refuses to pass laws to prevent this from happening because large corporations hire all the lobbyists who finance election campaigns and private citizens have no voice in government.
Posted by: William Manning
With all the efforts of checking out our backgrounds before even interviewing us, what's going to happen when they don't find any perfectly innocent applicants out there? Don't we all have sins in our past? Mistakes? Errorneous decisions? Stupid ways? Who are they going to hire when no one is perfectly clean? I may have screwed some people in the past, but I have been screwed a lot more than I have ever screwed anybody else. And 5 months of being unemployed I am still being screwed every time I send out my resume!
Posted by: Jennyne
Do you think I should create a new email address for my professional resumes to be answered? Maybe I am ending up in prospective employers trash box. What about viruses in my system when I add the networking sites?THANKS
Posted by: Jay De Are
Facebook, LinkedIN etc all have value but never bare your soul for all to read or find. Put 75% of your energy into networking with old contacts and making new ones, they will give you job leads.
Posted by: Charlene Karr On: 9/25/2009 9:59:00 AM
I have been unemployed for a year, i have been on every web site and looked every where. so how do you find a job these days?
Posted by: Fortune On: 9/25/2009 11:12:42 AM
Good points on both sites. But for me personally, Facebook just wasn't working. I originally intended to keep up with former coworkers, and promote my writing. But I found that I was not using it for what I intended. Pretty soon I was getting silly with it, talking about things like my football team, or the latest CD I'd bought. And I found other people were getting silly with me. I had a 60-year-old real-life friend "throwing beads" at me. I had no idea what that meant, nor did I care. I also found myself joining endless groups, which ultimately I did nothing with. None of this is Facebook's fault; it's all mine, for not being able to focus properly. But if you can't, it might be better to stick to professional networking sites, like Linkedin, or Brightfuse. I'm on both, and they're working out very well for me. I'm getting help with my writing, and I can "stay on topic" with my contacts. That's helping a lot more than posting, "I just bought the latest CD!"
Posted by: June On: 10/5/2009 11:57:38 AM
I served four years in the Navy and I have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice but no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get a real job. One besides flipping burgers. Heck, it seems they won't even hire me, and I cannot figure out why. One article I read said they check your credit report. I think this is so unfair. All my debt really comes from medical bills, and debt I was forced into by my ex-husband, and now I have to suffer from that. In addition, I live in a college town, not by choice. Here they seem to rather hire the college kids that come and go than someone with a degree and staying. I just don't get and it has me so bummed out. I have three kids to take care of and no one to help. I need a job. Any advice?
Posted by: LuAnne Miller On: 10/13/2009 10:48:42 AM
I spent my entire life at Verizon, moving up through the years to make significant money. I am now looking for a new career and have a Masters at Johns Hopkins in Info. Systems. I can not believe how HARD it is to even get a reply from these online career sites.
Posted by: Bobby Reed On: 10/15/2009 11:45:16 PM
Great analysis and advice...I'm an older guy and really haven't used Facebook but currently using LinkedIn. I will develop a Facebook page soon...
Posted by: Elizabeth On: 10/20/2009 3:01:22 PM
To Timika - who was terminated and then denied unemployment. My advice, if you haven't already done so, is to appeal. I was terminated once, not given a good reason, denied unemployment on a reason the owner made up, and got unemployment. Good Luck!
Posted by: SHERYL REGAN On: 10/23/2009 12:07:30 AM
i have never used linked in. I am contacted more through facebook.
