Networking may be good for your career

The job you want may never be advertised. Now, more than ever before, talent managers – or recruiters – scour social media networks to find the right fit for a position.

Having advertised on a number of job portals, an organisation would typically receive numerous curricula vitae from candidates, many of which are not suitable for the advertised position. The ensuing process can be time-consuming. But what if time is a critical factor and the lengthy vacancy of a key position may lead to a major loss for the company? Or the organisation wants to protect itself from disclosing confidential information such as vacancies and salary brackets and decides not to advertise senior positions?

This is where a knowledgeable recruiter can add value. Armed with information about the business, its culture and beliefs, as well as the right fit for the relevant position, the recruiter is able to compile a shortlist of suitable candidates in a much shorter time – with the help of social and other media.

Networking leads to information and job leads, often before a formal job description is created or a vacancy announced, as social media is used by both recruiters and job seekers.

For the job seeker, social networking is an excellent career advancement tool. Not only does it say something about oneself, it can open new career opportunities. People do business primarily with people they know and like. Résumés and cover letters alone are often too impersonal to convince employers to hire you.

LinkedIn
If you’re not already on LinkedIn, you need to subscribe now. LinkedIn is a site that allows you to network with people you know. It also allows you to see the profiles of other LinkedIn participants and provides you with ways to contact them. It will help you stay abreast of developments in the corporate world, for example who is working where.

A word of warning though: As much as social networking can help advance your career, it can also detract from your image. The rule of thumb is never to publish any information that you do not want your current or future employer to see.

Happy networking!

social networking ? noun 1. the development of social and professional contacts; the sharing of information and services among people with a common interest. 2. computers. the use of web sites or other online technologies to communicate with people and share information, resources.

For more information please contact Christa Mostert of Exceed Human Resource Consultants on 021 808 7222 / christam@exceed.co.za.