By Naked CIO, 4 November 2009 10:00
COMMENT
While social networking sites can be fun for connecting with family and friends, they're no use when it comes to professional networking, says the Naked CIO.
It used to be that social networking websites were a perfect place to collaborate with colleagues, bring together like-minded people and make professional contacts who could enhance your career. But no more.
Recently I spoke to a group of students about how to network and the importance of networking as a way to develop their professional goals.
As the technologist within the room, I was asked how students should use Facebook and similar sites to develop their professional networks in the hopes of enhancing their career opportunities.
My answer was that as time goes on I see these online social networks (including even LinkedIn and other work-focused sites) becoming less rather than more effective in developing meaningful networks that can be used for career opportunity.
The whole essence of social networking has changed recently from a quality to a quantity-driven medium. It's more important to have more friends than a selection of good ones.
The space is also becoming more anonymous than ever and often people are friends with others they don't really know.
All this means it's hard when you see a profile to have confidence in your connection to that individual and feel you could recommend them as a viable candidate for a career opportunity.
So the question, 'can online social networks improve your ability to find suitable employment?' meets with a 'no' response from me.
My faith in the online social networking medium itself, even while it is gaining muster, is diminishing.
I believe it's rife with imposters, prima donnas and embellishers. I also think the fad is becoming too mainstream, in that you must be there to be cool. All of these factors take away from the true power of the medium to be a focused and relevant place where relationships and ideas can take form.
Obviously, there are exceptions but as these sites become even more popular and these trends of anonymity and loose connections become more pervasive, I expect those exceptions to become fewer and fewer.
For personal use I think social network sites are fun, if a bit of a time waster. However, for professional networking, they're absolutely useless.
Do you agree with the Naked CIO? Do you think social networks have a place in business? Let us know by posting a reader comment below
Comments
There are 9 comments. Join the discussion
1. Stuart Fawcett
Not normally disagreeing with your observations, on this occasion I do think that social networking sites do positively provide second tier support in finding a job or just finding out more about a company. The quantity aspects in my opinion do actually increase the usefulness of researching roles, people and locations 2nd tier links can often also be helpful. This does not preclude quality either, though I’d generally like to add categories to these relationships. Yes take everything said with a pinch of salt, and guard against accepting all regardless.
But linked in gives me access to recruitment agents, who’s who in companies I might like to work for and allows me to keep in touch with good people I’ve worked with before. That said I’ve never personally found a job through linked in, though assume the speculative emails I do receive often originate via linked in.
On the other side I have looked through linked in searches when looking for employees, and have then organised interviews from this. I also found good suppliers, prospective customers and helpful technical people. Good luck with your future searches.
2. Andrew Peel
It's not the social networks that are the problem it's the ones you use. I would never use Facebook to find a job it's simply not what it's structured for. The only serious site where you can with a little effort get real leads to jobs is Linked in it's a known fact Head Hunters contact people on there I have been contacted 4 time in the last 2 months. The experiment was basically set to fail from the outcome because of the choice of social network.
3. Vik Cafe
Couldn't agree more with the Naked CIO on the points noted. If we were to look at Social media from the gartneresque hype cycle point, social media has use however the business value is diminished simply through the quantity and diversity of users and groups available to social networking groups.
Case in point; a friend who runs a plumbing business asked me to linkin, however how could I professionally link when our business hardly intersect, save we use an accountant?
Private, business social networks may have value; only a significantly sized business will have the appetite and capability to create value, however this is nothing new, being witness to early incubator ideas in large service based organisation.
4. Charles Smith
Sites like LinkedIn are good for keeping track of old colleagues in this mobile industry. I (unusually) agree with the Naked CIO, that they are not much good for finding jobs. There are some sites not openly publicised which are much better.
It's a bit like "the next great opportunity", if people are talking about it at dinner parties, it is too late to join.
5. Stewart Taylor
I think there is a big difference between a facebook and a Linked-In. While I agree neither of these mediums will give you much in the way of direct career opportunities, I believe the professional ones such as Xing and the aforementioned Linked-In, can be a great way to make contact and establish a network that may help in uncovering career opportunities. Having said that by far the best ways are good relationships with ex colleagues, networks of peers and a good recruitment consultant who will do much of the leg work for you.
6. Ben
The problem social networks have are 'Facebook/Linked In' Whore, that is peoples whose only goal is to see how many people they can get in their profile.
Unfortunately, this dilutes what ever benefit that social websites would provide. Networking is as much about meeting people as being careful to prune your network to keep it relevant. Social websites while providing an easy way to network does not ever replace the face to face need to build relationships and trust.
I believe social networks have a place, but they are only part of the equation and often people expectations of these sites are greater than they really are. (as they buy in to the hype)
7. Michael Deutch
You raise some great points but I disagree. While many use social networking sites as a popularity contests, it doesn't necessarily dilute the power or impact of the networks! They're incredibly powerful as mediums to connect and establish relationships with others in business and, more importantly, in life!
Over the last year, my online networking has led to articles being published in magazines, speaking engagements at conferences and webinars, new products and partnerships being created for our company, Mindjet. Not to mention the hundreds of conversations with customers and prospects that would have been difficult without the power of and reach of these networks. Now, with a network of thousands, could it help me find a new job if I wanted one? Yes. Fortunately, I'm loving work and not looking!
It may be harder for a college graduate to forge strong business connections with more senior professionals but as time passes their networks and opportunities will grow. Like everything in life, the more you put into something, the more you'll get out of it. I advise students to join online communities of interest, watch, listen, participate, engage, connect, and learn. There are many professionals willing to share wisdom and support others starting out in their respective fields. At least, that has been my experience.
Networks like LinkedIn allow users to maintain contact with colleagues from the past and periodically check-in and keep relationships alive and well. It provides opportunities to ask questions, seek advice, showcase thier talents, and make connections with others outside their immediate sphere of influence.
Just this week, I've passed resumes to our recruiter from people that have engaged with Mindjet via online communities.
I look forward to your future pieces to see how your opinion evolves and if your faith gets restored!
Btw, why are you called the naked CIO? I'd expect your name to be in the byline if you're really exposing yourself :)
8. Jameela
Disagree is my decree wrt to this article. Yes, I understand people are connected on social networks without being known to each other but not on all networks.
LinkedIn is different as it has more professional relevance then pictorial.
As head hunter with a big network of other headhunters and the guys I have placed, helps me in finding even more suitable candidates. Candidate I am considering for a newer opening can be connected to me one or two or three level down.
Once such connection is visible, I can always reach out to my connection get his reviews. In Nutshell, I am professional networkers and so is my world.
9. Front Line Marty
Quite. Time has passed and reality bites. Social networks are crawling with salesbots, adverts, links to dubious content and all the other parasites you'd expect to seek the misplaced trust of innocents. The belief that social network 'friends' were ever actually your friends is deader than a dead thing. Facebooks mere use of the word 'friend' devalued it.