Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

For the past few years social media has been growing rapidly and the reasons why people are using these platforms are beginning to expand. “Over the past few years, a new type of social interaction has exploded onto the scene—online social networking. Online social networks are online communities where people socialize or exchange information and opinions” ( Marketing: An Introduction, Pg. 142). Originally, social media was thought to just be used for personal use but more and more people are using it in order to connect and find job opportunities. One of the biggest social media platforms being used for this is Facebook. "More companies are trying to tap Facebook Inc.'s 750-million-plus user base to find new employees, threatening traditional job boards and competing with LinkedIn Corp., which has dominated the online professional networking arena" (Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like). In the article, Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like, they talk about how more and more companies are turning to Facebook in order to recruit employees. The issue with this though is that people like to restrict Facebook to just personal use. This could mean for staying connected with long distance friend or family. They would rather use a separate app for career information than use Facebook for both. The benefits of Facebook and their job posts however is that they don’t flood job boards. This can be frustrating for people because they feel bombarded and overwhelmed with information. It makes it harder for them to find what they are looking for. “Candidates have been 50% more likely to apply to positions they found through Facebook than through other means, said Mr. Staney” (Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like). Overall, with the growth that Facebook has seen they are beginning to have an impact on the job searching field.