I can hear the advice coming from everyone. It sounds like a nagging mother telling her kids to look both ways before crossing the street. Yeah, mom, I know. I know.
The nag I hear most about social networks, especially to the college set, is: "Beware. Don't. Watch out."
Google the subject and you'll get links like this one at the top of the list leading with the risks and warnings about participating on social networks and blogging, as they relate to your career prospects. It is a good post, everyone should be aware of the risks. It is a super post in that it also sheds light on opportunities blogging provides ... yet, the take away impression is still "WATCH OUT!"
Trend spotting: Facebook is the friend of Job Search!
Two days ago, I clicked on something of interest in my Tweetstream which brought me to a wonderfully insightful blog post which suggested looking at Facebook profiles and updates as a tool that can attract, not detract. Brilliant! It had me at hello.
Today, I saw this theme again in a piece that Jessica Shambora (@jessshambora) of FORTUNE wrote. Title? "Watch Out LinkedIn, Facebook is gaining on you." Jessica was kind enough to include me in her article so I can vouch for the fact that she was onto this theme at least dating back to last Tuesday, September 1st, when she interviewed me.
Let the sunshine in! Yes!, everyone's doom and gloom can also mean a big opportunity! Blue Ocean, Red Ocean, and all that.
This, I think, is a job tip and a trend spot of the moment. I did a Twitter Search to find that blog post I read with the breakthrough thought. Should have known. It was from Guy Kawaski. Way to go, Guy.
To be fair, the first opportunistic write up I saw on Facebook for job search came from this great experiment and resulting post on job seekers placing ads in Facebook by Willy Franzen on his blog, One Day One Job. Oddly, Willy wrote that one year ago to the week.
It is early days with this, though an indication of things to come. Good stuff. Take that naggers.
-- My kudos to anyone else who may have had this breakthrough thought. Feel free to share a link to your opportunistic take in a comment on this post. --
-------------------------- Talk Back ------------------------
Okay, let me have it. Tell me all the terrible things that happen on Facebook.
Then for those who wish to swim in blue oceans, can you see the opportunity? Can you see the world seeing the genuine you? That the genuine you will likely be attractive to a company and a culture where there is a genuine fit? What do you see?
And what could be the next opportunity, for people or business, with tools that we dismiss or diminish for certain applications today?
If you want to continue the conversation on what's now and what's next in the realm of careers, culture, cool, and the world of employment branding, feel free to follow me on Twitter and/or subscribe to this blog.
- Polly Pearson
http://www.pollypearson.com
http://twitter.com/pollypearson
http://twitter.com/emccareers
http://www.emcfacebook.com
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