When it comes to your job search, you might be surprised to find out who is most likely to help you find out about a new job you can apply for. It isn’t always your colleagues and close friends. It’s your second degree connections, the people you’d refer to as your acquaintances who are just as likely, if not more likely, to help you out!
Research on the impact of Facebook and LinkedIn connections has found that both “weak ties” and “strong ties” can help in your job search (so make sure to build up your social media network either way). The first paper notes that, “Over 50% of jobs are found through a social tie”! The old adage that, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is important to remember. In the case of your “weak ties”, they’re valuable because their social networks are less likely to overlap with your own. You’re more likely to hear about job opportunities that you might not have otherwise found out about through them.
If you are going to pick a platform to place the majority of your job seeking efforts into, LinkedIn is the best choice for most people. And it’s not just a database of jobs to search through, it’s a platform for networking. Check out my upcoming workshop, Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker, scheduled for Monday, August 5 from 11am-noon (or watch the recording afterwards) to learn more.
