How are professional and social networking sites different?

This isn’t a trick question; the answer is pretty simple. Both types of sites are effective ways to meet people and stay in touch. But while social networking is primarily used to communicate with friends, professional networking sites focus on career development.

 

Start networking by choosing the professional sites that appeal to you the most.  Some examples are LinkedIn.com, Spoke.com, Ryze.com, and Plaxo.com.

Just like on social networking sites, you create a profile. But there’s one big difference:  On professional networking sites, your profile is more like your resume.  Instead of listing your hobbies and interests, you list your education, your current employer, your job responsibilities, and your work history. You can even add your most professional-looking photo.

 

Then the real networking begins. You can search for other professionals in your industry, job openings, coworkers, and potential clients.  Set up a meeting with someone interested in your product or correspond with a colleague about current events in your industry. Most sites offer networking services for free, but there may be a fee if you want to conduct advanced searches or get guaranteed introductions to certain people. 

 

There’s one other big advantage to professional networking online:  Credibility. People can’t misrepresent themselves on professional networking sites as easily as they can on social networking sites.  Users have to post too much real, verifiable information.  This credibility is necessary in professional networks in order for strangers to do business with one another.

 

How to Use Professional Networking
You might love your current job, but plenty of people don’t.  Maybe you could help someone else out there find a job they can be passionate about, too. You may be able to help a friend, colleague, or friend of a colleague find a new job by connecting them with someone in your network who’s looking to hire someone.

 

If you need to fill a position at your own company, you could use your professional network to find a qualified candidate.  When you post a job opening on an online job site, you get bombarded with hundreds of resumes. Instead of searching through piles of applications for the best candidate, ask your professional contacts for credible referrals.

 

And if one day, for whatever reason, you no longer have that job you once loved, you can turn to your professional network.  One of your contacts or one of their contacts may know of the perfect new position for you.