Social media networks are defined as websites where users can sign up, create a profile and build a personal network which connects them to other users. True to their name, social media networking sites such as Facebook are most commonly used for social interaction with friends and family. However, what many people don’t realize is that social networking sites can also be an effective way to connect both professionally and educationally as well. No matter where you are in your career, social media can be a useful tool to help you find new jobs, network with employers or even find training courses to help improve your CV.

Finding Careers

There are specific social media sites which are designed for job networking, such as LinkedIn. These sites have specific career-building activities which you can take part in such as searching for old colleagues, displaying work history and building a CV, and researching different companies. You can also search for job postings online and get in touch with employers who are on the network. There are also a number of online communities for specific industries which you can join.

Self-Employment

If your perfect career idea involves working for yourself, social media can help to make this dream a reality. People who own a business or work as an independent contractor can use social networking sites to promote their products or services as well as make contact with clients. Setting up a business page on social media sites such as Facebook also allows for people to leave reviews and make recommendations or other comments about a business or freelancer, which can be beneficial for finding new custom and building a larger customer base.

Education

If you are currently in education, there has never been a better time to use social media to connect. Social networking technology can be used to build a network of fellow students and teaching staff whilst in school, college or university. Many employers also have profiles on social media which you can use to connect with them and inquire about job openings, internships, and other information. If you are looking for education such as online courses, social media is an excellent place to start looking as many online schools will have social networking profiles that they use to update both current and prospective students. Visiting social media profiles can lead you to places such as this website where you can find different CCNA and IT courses.

Optimizing Your Profile

It’s important to understand that when using your social media profile to find a career it should be optimised correctly. Employers will be able to see your social media profile and many employers also make a point of checking the social media profiles of applicants and prospective employees. It’s important that you don’t post anything on your social media profile which could be seen as offensive or detrimental to your character.

Social media is one of the best tools available today when it comes to gaining or furthering your dream career.