25 Facebook Rules for Job Seekers - CareerEnlightenment.com

Or, maybe, re-channel that nonfiction rage and use it to write that one novel we’re all supposed to have in us instead. And stay away from harsh criticisms of politics and religion â€" you never know who you might offend.BE WARY OF FRIEND REQUESTS:Only accept invites from people you actually know, because the face on the other end may very well be attached to a potential employer. Unless you’re rocking a purely professional account, in which case the more is probably the merrier.THE SOCIAL JOBS PARTNERSHIP:The U.S. Department of Labor, National Association of State Workforce Agencies, DirectEmployers Association, National Association of Colleges and Employers, and Facebook itself teamed up to harness social media in the interest of job seekers. It serves as an amazing depository for information regarding the current economic climate and advice about getting ahead.FOLLOW:So many companies these days host one or more Facebook pages to interact with consumers, fans, and fellow indus try professionals alike. Give them a like (or two) and follow along to gauge whether or not their culture seems right for you, participate in discussions to show off your knowledge, and maybe even learn about open positions as they post them.TAKE OUT AN AD:If you’re the bold type, creatively advertise your availability by buying and posting a clever side ad. Employers who love themselves an enterprising go-getter with pluck and chutzpah might stand up and take notice.JOIN GROUPS:You never know who you might meet or what job opportunities might arise, so try and participate in groups relevant to your chosen career paths. Politely, of course.NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK:Don’t hesitate to ask friends and family over Facebook if they know of any open positions at their own places of employment or elsewhere. Just make sure to do something nice for the ones who manage to score you an interview or, even better, a job.KNOW YOUR  KLOUT  SCORE:Social media-savvy companies looking for influen tial employees might want to take a gander at your Klout score, so consider including it on your resume if relevant to the opening. Not only does it measure influence via Facebook, but Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Foursquare, and other popular social media scenes.SET UP A FAN PAGE:If relevant to what you’re trying to accomplish, anyway, otherwise you just seem like a narcissist. Bloggers might want to open up a fan page for their professional musings so they can network with others in the industry without leaving personal profiles open to scrutiny.CHANGE THOSE PROFILE AND COVER PHOTOS:Even profiles on public lockdown still display profile and cover photos, so make sure to choose something a little more appropriate than scenes from that trip to Tijuana you and the boys took last summer.ACTIVATE  GOODREADS:More for professional and personal development than actually landing a job. Use this Facebook plugin to rate and review books relevant to your chosen career path and receive auto mated suggestions about what to read next. It might very well come in handy once the interview process begins.CRIME DOESN’T PAY:You may be the biggest NORML supporter on the planet, but that still doesn’t change the legal status of weed and other drugs. Potential employers might think you too much of a risk, even if you’re a responsible, hard-working sort, if they discover a profile spotted with evidence of use. Avoiding discussions of other past (and hopefully not current) criminal behaviors should be a no-brainer rule.KEEP PASSWORDS PRIVATE:Some employers, when faced with private Facebook profiles, have gone so far as to  ask interviewees for their login information. Don’t feel obligated to comply. You have the right to protect your privacy.AGE ISN’T AN OBSTACLE:Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are not the exclusive domain of the young. Older job seekers use them to show off and share their experiences (let’s see the kids beat that!) while simultaneously proving they’re not so bad at this web 2.0 stuff the business world is into these days.SEARCH FOR EVENTS:Browse public events in your area and see when and where the most recent job fairs, workshops, networking mixers, and other potentially fertile opportunities are happening. If you live close to your alma mater, stay in touch with their career services center if they happen to host a Facebook presence.POST YOUR RESUME:Or a link to it, if attenuating a resume to fit the notes feature proves too awkward. Even individuals with a private account can benefit if friends and family reach out and show it to anyone they know who might be hiring.MARKETPLACE:Jobs get posted at this sadly oft-overlooked app, so activating it is probably a grand idea. You never know what you might find!TURN THE TABLES:If you’ve got some names, nothing says you can’t go searching and scrutinizing the profiles belonging to your possible future employers. You might dredge up some dealmakers and dealbreaker s this way. Just don’t ask them for their passwords, OK?