Using social networking sites
MODESTO, Calif. — The old adage "It's not what you know, but who you know" is unapologetically obvious on such social networking Web sites as Facebook and LinkedIn, where users are working connections to find job opportunities.
With job security on shaky ground, tech-savvy job seekers are using social networking sites to take advantage of their connections and their friends' connections.
Although MySpace and Facebook have had widespread success, newer, more professional sites such as LinkedIn are increasingly popular. Professional sites help job seekers find openings through friends and friends of friends, but that's just one benefit, said Krista Canfield of LinkedIn.
"You can stay in touch with people who move around and switch careers," she said.
Stanford University Sociology Professor Mark Granovetter agreed. The more people who know you're looking for a job, the better your chances, and networking sites are the newest platform for an old practice.
Still, University of California at Davis career advisers urge students to network the old-fashioned way: face to face.
But even that is changing. Last month, Davis students used a speed-dating format to meet several potential employers in one night. Students had a limited time with each employer before they had students move on to the next employer. Speed networking gives students enough face time with professionals to learn how they got their jobs, said Marcie Kirk-Holland of UC Davis's Internship and Career Center.
When it comes to online networking, advisers urge students to proceed with caution. Half of employers think information posted on social sites should be taken into account when making hiring decisions, according to a 2006 AfterCollege Inc. survey of 750 employers. About 37 percent said they wouldn't hire someone if they discovered something questionable about them.
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