How can you overlook a social network with more members than most countries? With more than 500 million active users; it’s likely that just about anyone you might want to find has a profile on Facebook.

There is a reason we hear more about people losing their jobs based on what they do on Facebook than about those finding jobs as a result of their activity there. Let’s face it (no pun intended!) — it was intended as a social network; it’s a place where people go to unwind, unload and vent. It’s where they go to show off their vacation photos or share a video of their infant’s latest sneeze.

That in mind, you can still create a professional-looking profile on Facebook that may very well be the link you need to land your next job. If you’re looking for a new job, you will want to take advantage of every useful tool. I’ve suggested five steps to help you get started on the right foot on Facebook. Read them on my Social Media and Job Search column at Job-Hunt.org.

If you want to learn how to look for a job today, check out The Career Summit…more than a dozen online presentations (including mine) to help you land that next job!

photo by laikolosse

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  • http://tomhawkin.com Tom Hawkin

    Would you suggest having a separate profile for your friends and personal life? It can sometimes be tough to monitor friends who post immature material on your Facebook wall.

  • http://www.pkjobs.pk PKJobs

    Very right Miriam…500 million active users are like people everywhere you see on net, where ever you go you will find a link, a small picture with “f”. Marketing gurus are really happy with it. Normal users that make its huge part, who just share their “infant’s sneeze” :) have now a very strong feeling of like attached to everything, whether its an event or a celebrity, common man can speak now i must say in silent but strong words..:)

    .A~
    Job opportunities in Pakistan

  • http://michaellhanson.wordpress.com/ Michael Hanson

    A separate Facebook profile for those on the job hunt will be essential in 2011.

    Recruiters and Sourcers are interested in more than just your resume – and it will help you “stick out” of the crowd.

    If you want to be a bit aggressive, I’d also suggest running a targeted ad on the site using CPM and a minimal budget for 4 – 8 weeks of exposure. You can get quality clickthru’s with the right keyword mix with a proper investment. Depending on the type of targeting (i.e. job type, company type, etc.) you should expect to budget from $100 and up.

    • http://www.keppiecareers.com Miriam Salpeter

      Michael – Thanks for your comment. I agree that job seekers who focus on their social media strategy will need to step things up. I interviewed several people who used ads on Facebook successfully for my book. It is certainly a strategy that can help those willing to try something outside of the ordinary. Thanks for your comment!