Social Networking and the New World of Work

The current job scarcity has created a need for new and innovative ways for people to make money.  New social and business networking sites offer  job seekers the opportunity to look beyond the walls of the traditional job search and the traditional "job."

This can be a big leap for some people, especially those over 40.  I still remember going to the local "Unemployment Office" to read the "job postings" that were hand printed on 3X5 recipe cards.  I only needed one resume, not several, each "tailored to fit a specific job.  I thought of myself as an "employee" in search of an "employer."  

Not necessarily so anymore, according to current wisdom on the job search front.  You can be your own company and, most importantly, your own brand. Your clients (ie. companies and individuals)  pay for your expertise.  Offering your expertise online through social media tools such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter has the potential of generating revenue.

Of course,there are still traditional jobs out there and traditional job searching methods still work for some people, some of the time for some jobs.  But change has entered the house of job searching  and is in the process of rennovating from the inside out.

There are lots of resources to help you move into this new job search environment.  Here are a few to get you started:

Finding Jobs Through Social Networking

Are You Connected   -   Here's a brief excerpt from this article  "Maintaining and developing professional contacts has always been a vital job search strategy, and networking websites are another vehicle for doing so," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Job Hunting For Dummies(R), 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "Networking sites can be used to identify new career opportunities, create online profiles that highlight one's skills and experience, and build a roster of business contacts over time."

 

Also check out this list of links to  Career/Social Networking  information in About.com.

 

Using Social Networking to Make Money

For those brave souls out there who are taking the leap to making money online rather than in a "job," here are some free websites that I found useful.

    

Looks at making money through social networking by attracting venture capital and advertising.  Includes links to more information.

 

 
A self-made social media networker, Katie Freiling, offers a series of free, in-depth video tutorials on how to use social networking to make money.  These videos articulate a new generation's radical approach to the world of work and money making.

Social networking is proving to be a powerful tool for job searchers and entrepreneurs alike. But it is certainly not an overnight or guaranteed process.  As with all ventures out there in the wide world both `real`and `virtual` - ``Caveat Emptor!`` (Buyer Beware!).  Watch out for sites that want to charge money to help you with your job searching and entrepreneurial efforts.  If it sounds too good to be true...

 

Suggested Reading

                                 
 
 

Happy Networking!