Classmates.com, established in 1995, was the first online social networking site. Since then thousands of sites have been established for the purposes of social networking. These sites have varied their focus based on consumer interests, but they maintain their focus as being a way to connect others across geographically dispersed areas. Among the interests of the consumer, includes the ability to social networking for business and employment opportunities online. Online social networking sites have changed the way we communicate with each other. Researchers think that it is only a matter of time, before it also changes the way we market our employment skills and our companies.
Social networking has long been a suggested strategy for job seekers. Social networking involves “ the use of person-to-person, print, and electronic communication tools to alert potential employers that, as candidates, they are the confident, cooperative, uniquely qualified experts that companies seek”(Clark, 2009, p. 345). Networking is one suggested way to maintain connections for mutual advantage. Online networking sites are providing job seekers opportunities to turn social networking into business networking.
Management consultants (Clark, 2009; Dutta & Fraser, 2009) suggested that with recent economic changes and concerns for job security, job seekers should utilize social networking in their job search. Dutta et al (2009) noted that
"As the downturn continues, millions of corporate managers — gripped by the job jitters — are rushing to join online social networks in a scramble to build their social capital. The popularity of sites such as Linkedln is soaring: less than a year ago the site had little brand profile and was seen mostly as a venue for corporate suits trolling for professional contacts while plotting their next career move" (¶1).
In 2009, LinkedIn’syear-on-year growth was up nearly 200 percent in the United States with more than 35 million members — many of whom were formerly employed within the hard-hit financial sector (Dutta et al., 2009). Dutta et al. (2009) noted it as one of many business networking sites that experienced increases in membership over the past year. Even Facebook has recently seen an increase in the registrations of people in their mid careers. “It has been suggested that with the downturn in the global economy, people turn to Facebook in search of business contacts and safer employment prospects” (Benson, Filippaios, & Morgan, 2010, ¶ 2).
This movement in social networking as a means to individual employability is a phenomenon that continues to grow with each new year. Some universities and colleges teach courses on how to social network and manage social profiles in the online world. Benson et al. (2010) stated that “graduates who are coming into business for the first time are almost expected to be comfortable with interactions using social networks”(Abstract).
Businesses are also finding ways to utilize social networking for recruitment purposes. Being that this is such a new phenomenon, there are not many studies on how organizations and individuals can utilize social networking in electronic media as a way to increase employability, professional advancement, and the overall recruitment talent pool.
References
Benson, V., Filippaios, F., & Morgan, S. (2010). Changing the face of business education and career planning.(Online Social Networks). International Journal of E-Business Management 4.1, p.20-34.
Clark, T. (2009). Networking: A key to career communication and management success.Business Communication Quarterly, 72(3), p344-348.
Deschenaux, J. (2010). Attorney: Using social networking sites for hiring may lead to discrimination claims. Retrieved from http://www.shrm.org/LegalIssues/EmploymentLawAreas/Pages/AttorneyUsingSo...
Dutta, S. & Fraser, M. (2009). When jobseekers invade Facebook. McKinsey Quarterly, 3, p16-17.
Elmore, B. (2009). Social Networking Strategies. Baylor Business Review, 28 (1),25-28.
Jobvite (2010). Social recruiting survey. Retrieved from
http://recruiting.jobvite.com/resources/social-recruiting-survey.php
Leader-Chivée, L., Hamilton, B., Cowan, E. (2008). Networking the way to success: Online social networks for workplace and competitive advantage. People and Strategy, 31(4), 40-47.
Schuele, K., Madison, R., Gourniak, A. (2010). Navigating the 21ST CENTURY Job Search. Strategic Finance 91(7), 49-56.
Social Media Optimization (2010).Social networking and recruiting. Retrieved October 8, 2010
from http://social-media-optimization.com/2010/08/social-networks-and-recruiting/
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