Is Facebook The Key to Scoring a Job After College?

What’s a recent journalism grad to do when they’re desperate for a job? Place an ad on Facebook.

Thomas Pardee, a 22 year-old graduate of Chicago’s Columbia College, promoted himself to employees of Conde Nast (publisher of Vogue and Details) through personalized Facebook advertisements baring his image and plea for employment. Thus far, his ad has been clicked 130 times but Pardee’s received no promising response and zero job offers.

Is self-promotion on Facebook really the road to your dream job? Weigh the pros and cons before you make the call:

Pro: You understand the power of social media

The face of journalism is changing due to social media’s growing dominance, and employers in this field want to hire candidates that are up on the trend. By taking out a personalized Facebook ad, you’re actually communicating your involvement with social media and your ability to utilize it for targeted marketing.

Con: You can’t guarantee the right people will see your ad

Sure, Facebook allows you to target rather narrowly and select a company network to view your advertisement, but in order to land a job, the right people have to be on Facebook to begin with. There’s no guarantee that editors with the power to hire are on Facebook or that the HR recruiters are ever going to see your spot. Perhaps you’re thinking too much like a college student: Remember, not everyone has long breaks in their day and lots of free time to surf the web.

Pro: It’s unique and attention-getting

Facebook advertisements are typically for products like weight loss remedies and other websites; rarely do you see a personal ad from someone putting themselves out there. Coupled with a picture, this would sure get attention and be unique. But…

Con: It may receive the wrong kind of attention from professionals

Would you respect someone that advertised for a job on Facebook? It might attract attention, but when you enter the job world, you’re also looking for respect and admiration –enough to land you the gig of your dreams. Some might find this type of self-promotion desperate and unprofessional. A more targeted strategy (like reaching out to the head of recruiting on Linkedin) might prove more successful and less pricey.

Pro: It’s faster and more direct than sending out resumes and cover letters

Pardee’s ad was a direct link to his LinkedIn page, which is essentially a resume. Every time someone clicks on his image, they can place experience and achievements to his name and face in a matter of minutes. In the past, you’d have to send in paper resumes and cover letters to Human Resources departments with the hope that among the thousands they receive, yours would be lucky enough to get opened and passed along.

Con: You could be wasting your money

A college student's budget is tight to begin with, so spending an additional $12 each day for a Facebook advertisement (like Pardee did) might be a strain for some. With $12 dollars going to self-promotion, you might need to skip lunch, your daily Starbucks run, or fun times with your friends. You can’t guarantee that the ad will bring you any valuable attention, so it’s a gamble.

Ultimately, are the sacrifices of some pocket money (and perhaps a little dignity) worth it to find a job through Facebook? In my humble opinion, given today’s highly competitive job market, anything you can do to increase your exposure and make yourself stand out is worth the gamble. That’s not to say you should ignore the conventional route to jobs as well. Just be sure to send out those resumes and cover letters because most professionals DO respect the traditional approach.

Stay proactive in seeking out your dream job; you can’t just place an ad on a social networking site and hope that employers will come to you. You have to make calls, make contacts, and seek out valuable experiences that make you a marketable candidate.

 

-- By Ali Straka

• Delicious
• Digg
• Facebook
• Buzz Up!
• Technorati