Facebook, x2: sacrificing friends and networking

This is sort of old but interesting. Check it out here.

I saw a couple of messages about it through my LinkedIn AAF group, but I didn't investigate it until today. Seems that if you deleted 10 of your facebook friends, you'd be rewarded with a yummy whopper. Sadly, the promotion is over, so if you were looking to score some free fast food, you're a little too late.

Speaking of facebook....the other day I got a facebook message from an old roomie trying to do business with one of my old employers. He needed to get the scoop on the culture of the business, so he searched his facebook connections to see if he knew anyone affiliated with the company. And, as luck would have it -- I popped up. So he sent me a message, we scheduled a call, and I filled him in on the biz. Thirty minutes later, at the end of the call, he said he would keep his eyes open for any new ad positions that might be a fit for me. "I help you, you help me" was the tune we were singing.

But here's the interesting thing -- I hadn't spoken to my old roomie in years. In fact, we barely talked when we lived together since he was on a different floor of the house. (Yes, I once lived in a house where I had 11 -- yes, count 'em -- 11 roommates. We had the best parties EVER. Seriously.) Yet, since we're friends on facebook, we were able to connect without any of the typical "I-hope-you-don't-think-I-am-using-you-even-though-I-sorta-am" awkwardness. Facebook (or LinkedIn, or Twitter, or whatever you use) created a safe way to reach out.

I have been leveraging (excuse the biz speak, I know it is obnoxious) my social networks since I started looking for a job. So far, it's been pretty successful -- I've landed at least one interview and I've gotten my resume in front of the hiring managers for four or five other positions. I have personal, non-cyber relationships with some of the people who have been helping me, but there are others I have never met -- we're connected simply through social media. And while I can't attest to my final success rate with social media networking (I am STILL, er, unemployed), I wouldn't be shocked if it helped me land my next job.

Anyway, to close out my ramblings, I stumbled upon an article by Toby Bloomberg, social media marketing guru and author of the Diva Marketing blog. The article is about expanding your business network via social media, and the advantages of doing it online. It's definitely applicable to job seekers like yours truly. You can read the article in it's entirety here, but some of the key points are below. Enjoy!

- "Meeting" people online may be easier for shy people. (Even extroverts -- like me! -- sometimes find it easier to reach out via social media.) Connecting with people through blog comments and twitter posts is a great way to start a relationship with someone.

- The "duh" point -- social media makes it much easier to connect with friends of friends. LinkedIn is especially great for this, since your network includes three levels of connections. Before I apply for any job, I always look through LinkedIn to see if anyone in my network is affiliated with the company. If it's a second or third level connection, I'll ask my direct connection for an e-introduction. Once I get a convo going, I'll send my application materials directly to my new connection. This helps me avoid the online black hole of death application process or an overworked recruiter who tosses my resume because I didn't major in marketing.

- And one of the best parts of social media -- you can network when you want to. Can't go back to sleep after waking up at 3 am? Open up LinkedIn and network, baby! Stuck in an airport terminal for 10 hours since your pilot didn't show? (Yep, this has happened to me!) Pull out the blackberry and scan facebook for people you want to connect with. Network, network, network -- on YOUR timeline!

So....how are you going to use social media to expand your business connections?