How to Use Facebook Groups for Networking and Job Search

How to Use facebook inc Groups for Networking and Job SearchHow to Use Facebook Groups for Networking and Job SearchIf you think of Facebook as a place to post photos of your pets and kids, well, youre elend wrong. But the social media siteisalso a powerful tool for networking and engaging in a job search. Think about it How often have you seen a friend post that his or her company is looking to fill a position? And, how many groups exist that are related to your field? Much like the office water cooler or a get-together with friends, Facebook is a virtual gathering place where people talk about kids, pets, the nachrichten- and work, too. Try these simple strategies to use Facebook to further your job search. Join Groups That Relate to Your Job Interests Use Facebooks search function to find groups of people talking about your industry. If youre a marketer, for instance, try searching marketing. Once youve typed a keyword into the search bar, hit the see all results text, then ch oose the groups tab on the search results page. Some groups may be secret or closed to permit only people related to a topic to join. Ask friends and colleagues to recommend the Facebook groups they find useful for networking or learning about their industries. Get a Facebook invite from them, if needed. You can also do an online search- outside of Facebook- to see which Facebook groups people recommend in your industry. Try putting Best Facebook groups for industry/field/job title into a search engine and see what pops up. Participate in the Groups You dont have to be a moderator of the group the person who reviews every post. But aim to be an active member by regularly reading the posts. Comment on posts when you have an opinion, advice, or a tip to share. You can also post yourself by sharing articles and photos. Here are some ideas for how to participate Comment on posts asking for advice or sympathy Even something as simple as liking a post can get you noticed by the group moderator and other members.Share a relevant news story Post interesting news related to the group is an easy way to participate. Ask icebreakersYou might post something likeMy name is Sam and I went to SCAD as a textile major before becoming a production director for TV shows. Just curious how did you find your wayinto this field?Ask questionsGroup members are usually willing to answer questions and share advice. Before you ask a question though, search the groups history to see if its beenaddressed. Request help with your job searchIf youre looking for a job in a certain location or to meet people in your city, you can post with these direct asks. You may be surprised to find how generous people are sharing advice or connections. Follow the rules Make koranvers to note the groups rules before posting. Some groups, for instance, have rules against self-promotion, so youll want to make sure to avoid pushing your book, if youve written one, or any products where you make money. Typi cally, youll find that most groups haveonlyafew active members and a lot of lurkerspeoplewho read posts, and sometimeslikethe posts, but rarely comment. Be more active than this silent majority- join (and start) the conversation. AttendIn-Person Events If people post about networking events- conferences or drink gatherings in your area- consider attending. Youll already have something in common with other attendees, which can make small talk easier. The connections formed by meeting someone in person tend to be stronger than those created with online interactions. Leave Groups That Arent Active or Helpful With closed groups, you wont be able to see the quality and quantity of posts before joining. Dont hesitate to leave any Facebook group you join that isnt helpful or is cluttering up your feed with content that isnt actionable. Just think of it as unsubscribing from a marketing newsletter. Spam isnt going to further your job search itll only eat up your valuable time. Your goal is to join groups with meaningful information, where you can form connections. Form Connections fruchtwein of your friends on Facebook are probably people youve met in real life. But, as you engage with fellow group members, you may discover you have a lot in common- evenmore than the topic of the group. Inside jokes can form. Personal details may get shared. This is the process of becoming friends online. Once youve had a few interactions on comment threads- beyond just liking each others comments- it may feel reasonable to extend the relationship beyond the group, and connect as friends. You may also send direct messages to people in groups, using Facebooks messenger functionality. Be cautious, however. Unlike LinkedIn, most people do associate Facebook with friends- notprofessionalnetworking- so you do not want to abuse the messenger functionality. Make koranvers Your Profile Doesnt Have Anything Inappropriate The primary purpose of Facebookisconnecting with friends and family. Once youre in a group, however,youshouldknow that people click through to your profile page once you post. What will they see?Youdbettermake sureyourprofile doesnt have anything starkly unprofessional showing (i.e.,pictures of you drunk, scandalous outfits, hateful or unkind language, curses, etc.). These are good policies to follow if youre job searching anyway,becauserecruiters and hiring managersareknowntocheck profilesas part of their pre-interview prep work. You can also fill inyourprofilewithdetails on your education and work history.