Networking fo a Fast Job Search

Nihit Desai · Subscribe · Indian Institute of Technology Madras
This is an unfair comparison..
1. facebook has close to ~800 million members.. LinkedIn has ~150 million (and in that light, LinkedIn has actually done better, since 40% as opposed to 78% is far larger as compared to 150 million as opposed to 800 million).

2. "36% earn more than $75,000 and 42% are college graduates." for facebook.


Philip Cortes · Subscribe · Seattle, Washington
NIhit - I (respectfully) disagree with you. Facebook is where you have the strength of ties needed to make your networking work. You can ask your college friend (on Facebook) for help getting a gig at Amazon.com, but you can't ask the random guy you met at a conference (LinkedIn Connection) for help and expect similar results.

Anecdotally, I have 2x the number of connections on Facebook than I do on LinkedIn, and only 30% of them overlap between networks. I'm more likely to turn to my Facebook friends for help and referrals than I am anyone in my LinkedIn network, because I don't know them nearly well enough to make it work.

**Shameless Plug**
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Marquis Crumpton · Subscribe · Scottsdale Community College
I noticed that when I found out more about linkedin.com. I don't like the site and I am college grad who can't land a job. I get very poor advice from linkedin.com and I think the professionals talk as if they know everything and live high on the hog! People getting hired from social networks, no luck hasn't happen to me yet.

Antoinette Campbell · Ultrasound Diagnostic School
Hi Marquis,

My name is Antoinette, and i saw your comment about looking for an opportunity!!!!

PLEASE READ!!!!! I HOPE THIS INFO WILL BE USEFUL TO U


Steve Poland · Subscribe · Top Commenter · Purdue University
It blows my mind that 1,200 people surveyed, can represent 22 million people. #BS

Josh Constine · Subscribe · Top Commenter · Writer at TechCrunch · 671 subscribers
It is unfortunate that the sample size wasn't bigger, but I made sure not to draw any conclusions about any of the numbers that weren't separated by large margins. This makes my conclusions much less susceptible to bias by the low sample size.

Sebastian Aspland · Subscribe
Worse than this, I bet they conducted the survey through Facebook and Linkedin which may (just a bit) influence the result.

Nuke Recruit · Recruiter at Xcel Energy
I do not think the intent of this article was to “take away” from LinkedIn, but to ask readers to understand that job opportunities may be found outside of LinkedIn. I have a facebook page that I use specifically for recruiting. I still utilize LinkedIn to source talent, but I do recognize that I need to diversify how I do my job… This really validates (for me) that the 10 – 20 minutes per day that I spend with facebook may pay off.

Farden Rapgrit
I think you will find the quality of the data you get from FB is very much poorer than LI. LI is all good solid professional information, validated by recommendations, as well as pby rofessional network quality, group memberships and posts. FB can't get anywhere close to that.

Joseph Matthew · CSU Fullerton
I find it hard to believe that individuals pulling down more than $75k are finding more opportunities through Facebook (and getting hired that way) than they are in LinkedIn. Volume of users is a good point, and so is sector. I mean, 7 out of 10 people can "find work" through Facebook, but it could have been your college buddy posting Jobvites about a new BK or McD having opened up...

Philip Cortes · Subscribe · Seattle, Washington
I think it has to do with the strength of ties people have on the different networks. For people 35 and under, LinkedIn is where they "connect" with people they met at conferences, but aren't particularly tied to. Facebook, on the other hand, is where they friend people they're more likely to want to help in some way. Our data at Meeteor.com found that Facebook's graph is larger (in raw #'s) and deeper (stronger bonds).

50% of all jobs are found through networking, so it only makes sense that people would do it through Facebook. (http://bit.ly/oiUJMn for stats on the importance in networking for your job search)

Jason Gordon
Agreed. LinkedIN is where i interact with colleagues. Facebook is where I do most of my bullshitting.

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
Philip Cortes I disagree with your assertion that LinkedIn is how people connect with "people they met at conferences" and with people you're not really tied to. I'm not sure how you're using LinkedIn, but I think that everyone leverages their network differently. Personally, I've connected with past co-workers, clients of my IT services business, and people I've met through my volunteer work. Many of them have provided me with valuable recommendations and introduced me to other valuable connections. I also do have some more casual acquaintances who aren't as valuable in my LinkedIn network, but there's always potential there in the future (especially if I apply myself in creating those relationships and finding the opportunities that they may present!), and the same could be said for my Facebook.

I'm sure that if you only co...See More


Alethia J Austin · Subscribe · Top Commenter
Aside from being scouted (which most likely happens more often through social networks) & recommendations, is there any other way?
I am surprised that Facebook took the lead over Linkedin in this study.

Itamar Rogel · Founder at Briox
I find the Facebook lead over LinkedIn a surprise as well. I wonder how per-sector stats would have looked (some sectors are more LinkedIn-esque than others).

Alethia J Austin · Subscribe · Top Commenter
Itamar Rogel Those were my thoughts, too. I'm sure the results would be interesting.

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
I wasn't scouted. I involved myself in a brand's Facebook page and a company which works with that brand took an interest in me and offered me a job. I think there are all sorts of ways to get a job through social networks. I realize that stories like mine are fewer and further between and that scouting or direct introduction are more common, but I think that there are all sorts of ways to find employment through social networking if you think outside the box, or if you're lucky and just keep stumbling into great opportunities like me! ;)


Guillermo Christen
This is exactly why something like http://evaluat3.me works. We have totally noticed the trends. It seems to me recruiters are looking at social networks increasingly earlier in their search. Social network profiles tend to substantiate claims, not just about specific skills like ‘ I’m a good designer ‘ but also about softer traits like communication or teamwork. The growing importance of Facebook in this space is certainly something to be very aware of.

Chad Lilly · Recruiting Manager at Lextech Global Services
Interesting points by all and regardless of where they come from. Great new hires and companies are hard to find. Getting the word out there is key. You never know who knows who and what their hot buttons are for change. Recruiting tech talent for 16 years the goal is to talk to as many great people in your technology space as possible. Then you network has power regardless of LinkedIn or Facebook or G+ or... you get the point.

Ana Cortes
I recently used Meeteor.com and found it to be the most proactive of all the tools in getting me personal introductions at the companies I'm interested in. Really recommend it!

Agustin Hsu · Los Angeles, California
The Power of Social networks ~~~ Interesting....

Kishore Sharma
Boy! the power of networking is not in this mere sites..it is in you. which ever website you follow you should know how to make use of it most...stats will change the way we make it work...i think both have its Pro's and con's..one with vast networking capability and other with specific to groups...

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
Totally agree, Kishore! What matters more than what site you're on is how you're using the site and your network!

John Dennehy · Cork

D Ramonte Rawls
Great share, JD...and, it's quite interesting that TechCrunch doesn't allow one to sign in for commenting using LinkedIn. Maybe this article is not providing as much parity as the studies in the UK. I'm just saying...What do you say?

Alison Hillman · Subscribe · San Francisco, California
My name is Ali and I am BranchOut's Community Manager, just wanted to say hello and thank you for the coverage. If you have questions about RecruiterConnect, we'd love to help. Please contact us at contact@branchout.com and we look forward to being a resource! Cheers :)

Tony J Poulsen · Evergreen High School
I don't think FB is a good job search tool. I tried BranchOut and found it frustrating and repetitive. Ive had more success at atleast getting an interview with Indeed and SimplyHired. LinkedIn and IHire are not the best for the regular Joes just to have a job. And I tried touse a connection for a job but she said she didn't really know her to ask.

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
Sorry to hear you're having troubles with effectively networking, Tony! I checked out BranchOut just yesterday (after seeing their community manager's comment on this article) and it looks like it's just an app that allows you to find professional connections through your existing Facebook connections. That's not really networking, that's just putting a shiny new professional interface on your existing network and saying it's now a professional tool. I wouldn't get too discouraged just because you had a sub-par experience with BranchOut.

The real value in networking is reaching out to new people that you don't really know yet, finding a way to be useful to them, and in turn they will often times help you as well! Indeed or SimplyHired are going to be more efficient than using a social networking site for finding a job, but networking is a great tool for finding a career (and a place in that career field) that you love!

Tony J Poulsen · Evergreen High School
Zachary Chastain - Just got hired today!!!

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
Congratulations Tony! That's excellent news! Were you able to land the job through networking or some other means? :)


Steve Severn · Subscribe · Social Media/Marketing Manager at Neilson Marketing Services
Oh please, just take advantage of the opportunity that has surfaced. Check out how I was able to land an interview using Facebook Advertising http://3gguerrilla.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/guerrilla-marketing-the-facebook-job-experiment/.

Keith Plesha · Top Commenter · Madison, Wisconsin
Being open like this (along with your fbook privacy settings) is bound to get you fired son!

Steve Severn · Subscribe · Social Media/Marketing Manager at Neilson Marketing Services
Keith Plesha It actually helped me established a large number of connections, 2 interviews, and their Creative Director's nod of approval at one of the most prestigious advertising firms in the world.. If you paid attention, it actually directed employees to my LinkedIn Page, but thanks for your encouragement.

Keith Plesha · Top Commenter · Madison, Wisconsin
Steve Severn - Your approach was extremely creative...I'm not knocking that at all. What I'm saying is that you are putting a lot of information out there that can be scrutinized by your current employer as they typically don't like their employees advertising that they are actively looking for a new job. People have been fired for posting their resume, posting negatively about their company, not to mention posting comments about it on popular websites where your title and company are clearly visible.


Tanu Javeri · Works at CognizantSEO
Yes, social networks do get more jobs. LinkedIn is just a professional social network. Facebook may also be good source of jobs but what is the nature of these jobs and what are the typical pay packages? I guess it boils down to how an individual uses these networks to represent their work and recommendations.

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
Great point, Tanu! I've seen a lot of generalizations about what people use LinkedIn or Facebook for from the conversations here, but realistically everyone uses their networks differently, and individual successes are going to depend more on how you are maintaining your profiles, managing your privacy, and interacting with your connections, rather than which social site you're using.

Sriram Vaithyanathan · University of East London
LinkedIn for "Professional" people and Facebook for "People". Never compare. There is a lot of difference between a professional camera and a mobile phone camera ^ ^.

Sriram Vaithyanathan · University of East London
Does facebook help fresh graduates? LinkedIn does!

I will agree facebook > LinkedIn, when it helps in finding jobs for fresh graduates.

Zachary Chastain · Community Management Contractor at Thought Labs
I see where you're coming from, Sriram, but I disagree. What really matters is how you leverage your network. I got a great job through Facebook. However, if I had just relied on my friends that I already know (and have thus connected with through Facebook) I would have never found that opportunity. Instead, I got involved with a brand on their Facebook community, and after about a year and a half of that, I was offered a job.

In my opinion, what matters more than what network you're using is how you approach new connections, how aggressively you pursue creating and cultivating new connections, and how you interact with your existing connections.

Greg Harrison · Subscribe · University Of Manchester
One attraction of Facebook over LinkedIn is that users are usually closer to their Facebook network (friends, family, etc) than they are to their more removed LinkedIn connections (business associates).

On ViewsOnYou - http://facebook.viewsonyou.com - we give users the tools to create a professional 360 profile using their Facebook network, who are those more likely to know the user best, and who they would go to for help over their LinkedIn connections.

While both sites clearly have a part to play, Facebook is an increasingly powerful tool in a tough job market.

David McNamara
If the objective is to find a job then does it matter how you get introduced? If I am looking for a job, I would look at several media to achieve that objective, if it is friends and family via FB then great, if it is LinkedIn then great or if it is through Recruiting Agenices then also great! Point is use what ever tools you need to get the job done! ( excuse the pun).

Open Systems Technologies New York
Open Systems Technologies is one of the largest, privately helf staffing companies in the world. OST is a national provider of smart staffing solutions, providing contract staffing, permanent placements and executive searches in Technology, Finance, Accounting & Operations, government services etc. Over the past 20 years we have experienced organic growth and currently employ over 1,500 consultants in 16 domestic and international markets. OST strives for continued expansion and excellence in the staffing industry. Please follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/ostny, on facebook www.facebook.com/ostny, or simply check our website www.opensystemstech.com, for the latest job postings. Thank you.

Colin Keown
On the other hand I wonder how many potential job applications have been ruined by Facebook.

Its all too easy for a perspective employer to look at candidates profiles and find something they either don't like or don't approve of. Candidates need to be 'socially aware' of how much information is available on them through a simple google search - both good and bad.

Keith Plesha · Top Commenter · Madison, Wisconsin
One of the many reasons I have little to no desire to use Facebook for recruiting purposes.

Sue Howell · Ilfracombe College
So true it's frightening

Keith Plesha · Top Commenter · Madison, Wisconsin
Here's the problem I see with this as I am a corporate recruiter. I don't/can't actively search for candidates on Facebook like I can on Linkedin without some paid for application extender. Facebook is much more passive in my opinion. Sure, you can hear about a job from a friend at their company or contact an old colleague that is at another company now for opportunities.

If I'm a job seeker, what good is Facebook other than networking with people you all ready know? The likelihood that you have talked to that friend about jobs is all ready a high percentage. On Linkedin I could search companies that interest me and then contact those associated with the company...or better yet, find the exact hiring manager and make the connection myself.

Facebook is good for word of mouth, but Linkedin is far superior for the active job seeker.

Vishal Soni · My own at Jewellery
Well this was already predicted long back.As the social networks are flooding these days online...ofcourse. Visit www.techclinch.com

Kathy O'Reilly · Subscribe · Works at Monster.com
Hi Josh. Thanks for mentioning BeKnown, Monster's professional networking app for Facebook. As the worldwide leader in connecting people with job opportunities, it was a logical move for Monster to bring professional networking to the largest social network dominating time spent online. We're introducing some new features in BeKnown that will make it even easier for companies to get their job listings in front of millions of Facebook users, college students, alumni and more. Happy to brief you on the news within the next 2 weeks. Thanks again for the mention and congrats on your new assignment at TechCrunch! -- Kathy O'Reilly, Director Social Media, Monster.com.