Recently, I was told by a an older gentleman that social and professional networking sites are not for finding jobs and that a generational gap exists between us and them. I was somewhat disappointed that this comment came from a man who has the power to hire people into a great local organization. I was also a little shocked at his resistance to social and professional networking online using technology like FaceBook and LinkedIn.
Why? Because we were at a networking meeting for starters. Also, because I see all of our online networking activity as a great extension of that rotary phone we grew up. Only now, that phone travels with me everywhere and is used to update my Twitter account, FaceBook status, track my calendar, email, play games and of course capture media to distribute on my social networks.
Maybe if I was a little more present, or less interested in being diplomatic, I would have responded with my usual response. “You’re right, LinkedIn and FaceBook are not for finding a job, they are for growing revenue and increasing profits.” I say it because I believe it.
If you learn how to use the social and professional networking tools available, you will accomplish increased sales. You will never need to make a call again. You will also become a valuable commodity as an educated, technically savy employee who is ahead of the curve. This might not help you find a job, but in a traditional company this may wind up saving your job.
I do not believe there is a generation gap in the world of FaceBook, LinkedIn and Twitter. I believe we have an obligation for “each one to teach one.” Find someone you know and share what you know. Invite an old or young person to FaceBook or LinkedIn and invite them to get together and show them how to use the software. Every time you do this you will grow the strength of your own network, accumulate social capital and share an experience with someone who has something equally valuable to share with you. Be a Guru, a Teacher, a Student. Be Yourself.
Jamie! TYou aren’t referring to, perchance, leaders of a group in Solon?
Unfortunately, social media is something you don’t ‘get’ until you ‘get’.
I post many articles and jobs on their website and I have been asked to post nothing further regarding social media as it has little value (in their opinion) to a job seeker. I was floored.
My solution to help seekers get this information? My email signature gives links to me at Facebook, LinkedIN and Twitter. I then steer them towards http://www.delicious.com where they can link to me under my username ‘susiesharp’. I get 30-40 emails of ‘thank you’ a week from job seekers.
I wish the leaders of this group could make the leap of faith to help benefit the nearly 4000 people in their database; it is the best job seeking group in NEO!
Susie, I can’t kiss and tell. But I can tell you that I think it is great that you post so much positive information for job seekers and I have forwarded your links to events multiple times.
My only solution is education and focusing on our individual knowledge. I also believe we learn best when we teach the basics to someone else. Thus I am asking everyone I teach to teach someone else. I like that you use the social bookmarking so heavily, it is a weakness of mine I need to embrace.
Amen. Well said Jamie! Just this week the Director for Workforce Development for Cleveland sent me an email asking me to remove her from my “mailing list”. When I asked her what “list” she was referring to, she sent me the Linkedin invitation to connect that I sent her. I wrote her back and explained what Linkedin is and how it works. She suggested that maybe I should “make myself known to her” before inviting her to connect. Fine, but Cleveland’s a small city and we have plenty of mutual acquaintances. But that’s not the point. It seems this woman has no Linkedin page! The Director of Workforce Development. The point is that although I’m sure this individual is otherwise well qualified to do her job, she obviously has little or no understanding of what Linkedin is. To be fair, maybe her job doesn’t require developing relationships with industry, but I sort of doubt that. Anyways, I wrote her back and told her that although I now live in Ohio, I used to work in economic development in Connecticut where I stay connected with many folks working in workforce development via Linkedin. Now that I live here, and wish to remain here and raise a family in Ohio, I take a personal interest in taxpayer efforts to build a brighter future for the region. I offered to pay for a social media specialist to meet with her and her staff and help them understand new tools like Linkedin. This was two days ago and I haven’t heard back. I’m not holding my breath. Progress begins and ends with small decisions.
Paul. That hits painfully close to home. I am guessing she needs a phone call from you. She is one of many people who are not engaged and need to be. The Stats that ring out in my mind are 250 million people on FaceBook. 40 million plus on LinkedIn. Even with my small network on LinkedIn I can reach 3 million + people.
In my mind, the Director of Workforce development for Cleveland should consider social and professional networking online vocational training critical to the future of our maturing work force.