MN Unemployment – Your Online Guide
Minnesota Unemployment Resources – Social Networking
One of the best and most effective methods for beating unemployment and finding a new job is by networking with your family, friends, and former co-workers. In the past, this was done by everyone maintaining their own manual network and address book of people to keep in touch with.
This has dramatically changed with the popularity of web-based social networking sites where people can collaborate and communicate anywhere in the world. Here at MN Unemployment we’ve researched and listed many of the most popular and helpful below.
Along with some of the more well known sites such as Twitter and Facebook, there are also websites that focus exclusively on career and business networking. Networking with people who work in the industry or even at the exact company you’d like to work for can be a big advantage over other candidates competing for the same job. These websites can offer you experience and insights that would be difficult to gather on your own, especially if you are making a career change and have very little (or no) experience in your new industry.
So, though many of the sites are national and not MN unemployment specific, within each site you’ll likely find niches and company or industry-specific groups to collaborate and connect with.
As with other places on the internet be careful about where you go and who to contact. There are plenty of recent news stories about both the misuse and real dangers that can occur with social networking websites. Just because the other person says who they are and where they work doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true. Always be cautious and protect your privacy!
Facebook
Facebook needs no introduction. Millions and millions of people belong to Facebook making it one of the most popular social networking websites in the world. For the unemployed person looking for work, that fact that so many people belong to the website make it an invaluable resource in networking. While many people use the site to reconnect with old friends, the resourceful job seeker can also use it to reconnect with previous co-workers or bosses. Your never know who might help you get your next job.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a another very popular social networking website. This site is focused specifically for networking professionals. Once you sign up you’ll create an online profile indicating your areas of interest and experience. Other individuals with similar backgrounds or interests can then find and contact you (and likewise).
Twitter
Twitter is the hugely-popular real-time social networking website. Thousands and thousands of people ‘tweet’ daily to update everyone who’s listening what’s going on in their lives. This can, of course, include your job search.
Ryze
Ryze Business Networking operates another business focused networking website. Joining the site is free and once you join you can create your own homepage on the website. While not as large or well known as LinkedIn, it’s easy to use and advertises to have over 500,000 members around the world.
Jobfox
Jobfox is a networking website dedicated totally to job and career networking. It was created by the previous founder of Careerbuilder.com, and currently boasts a membership of over 7 million members.
Brazen Careerist
Brazen Careerist is a social networking website focused on jobs searching and career building. It allows users to create a profile, and connect with other users.
MyWorkster
MyWorkster is a networking website focused on colleges and recent college graduates. Registration is required.
