There are a number of professional social media networking platforms that can help you connect with past, present and future colleagues, discover job opportunities tailored to your skill set and experience and uncover interesting information to guide your career decisions. Some of the largest are listed below but there are many others.
- LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network, with more than 610 million users in more than 200 countries.
- Facebook has community pages and groups dedicated to sharing professional knowledge and experience, such as the Women Veterans Network Australia.
- Twitter allows you to create a professional contacts list to follow users whose information you want to receive.
The benefits of interacting with these platforms depend on how comprehensive your profile is.
Filling out your work history and expertise allows potential employers and recruiters to find you. These platforms also use your profile data to suggest relevant job opportunities.
It’s a good idea to include a photo and to write a succinct personal summary highlighting your strengths and the kind of opportunities you’re looking for.
You can modify your privacy settings to control how you appear online.
Platforms such as LinkedIn and Workforce Australia allow you to apply for advertised positions directly through their site.
You can also let recruiters know you’re looking for new opportunities.
If you find a particular company that you’re interested in, you can follow company pages, to keep up to date with the latest news and any vacancies that may come up.