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Social networking sites as a career benefit

August 14, 2008 on 4:55 pm | In hi-tech, workplace issues | No Comments

I know plenty of people my age who poo-poo social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, and they may be doing so at their peril.

They would do well to read “The Social Network as a Career Safety Net” in today’s New York Times. The piece makes an especially good case for LinkedIn, whose average user is a 41-year-old college-educated professional. The site is not just for the youngsters!

The hard part about that site is getting recommendations. They help complete your profile and make it more useful for possible hiring agents, but it can feel like an imposition to ask that of your associates. Maybe that’s why I’ve never asked for a recommendation!

Using these sites while at work can be a tricky issue. I’ve often heard people talk about playing games or leaving comments on Facebook during work. That could be a no-no in the eyes of your employer!

More than half of companies don’t have a policy about using social network sites at work, but that may change soon. For more, read “Mixing Online Networking with Work.”