"5 Simple Tips to Beat Age Discrimination in Your Job Search" Free Online Workshop Register Here
By ELIZABETH GARONE
Q: How important is it for educated, laid-off professionals over the age of 50 to join networking sites? I am very Web and computer savvy, but do not really care to get involved with Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
A: You would be doing yourself a disservice not to have a profile on a networking site in the current job market, career experts say. It's becoming increasingly common for recruiters to use these as their first point of contact with potential employees. Without one, you could be in danger of being overlooked."First, it shows you're relevant," says Diane Darling, founder and chief executive officer of Effective Networking Inc. in Boston. "And, two, it gives you a very easy Web link that anybody can go to get your data points, from a resume to awards you might have received or anything along those lines."
It would be a mistake to think that networking sites are only for "a younger crowd," adds Jason Alba, author of "I'm on LinkedIn – Now What???" "There are a lot of jobs getting filled from these social networks, and I'd hate to think they are all going to younger professionals simply because you aren't there," he says.
Some networking sites are even exclusive to high-level professionals, such as ExecuNet (http://www.execunet.com/) and The Financial Executives Network group (http://www.thefeng.org/).
When 50-year-old Chuck Hester started a job search in 2006, he let 50 or so of his LinkedIn connections in the Raleigh, N.C., area know he was open to new opportunities in marketing or public relations. One of them -- someone he'd never met -- was Ryan Allis, CEO of iContact Corp., an email-marketing company. Mr. Allis responded with an offer to get together in person and Mr. Hester accepted. During the meeting, the executive invited Mr. Hester to interview for a newly created position as director of public relations at his firm. Mr. Hester agreed and was subsequently hired. "I truly believe I got my job through LinkedIn," he says. "In today's world, it is through social-media sites you are going to get the next position."
Click here to read part 2 of this article
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I thought this article only tells half the story. I have removed myself from ALL sites since my resume was removed from either CareerBuilder, Monster, Job Services, or the AICPA website. It was used to apply for every single open position from receptionist,admin assistant, clerk, engineering, various IT positions, and all accounting positions. Needless to say, when a reputable recruiter submitted my name to a position for which I was very well qualified, HR refused to even review my resume since they already knew my name and thought that I was so desperate looking for a job that I would apply to just anything indiscriminately. To qualify for Unemployment, you must be registered with Job Services. But, the resume I have on there is so generic, it is doubtful any recruiter would waste their time. There isn't anything that can be done to protect your self from unscrupulous people.---except removing pertinent data from all public websites. I started a Facebook account so that I could keep in touch with family members. However, since that is no longer even considered private, there isn't anything on that site. In fact, I don't even remember the password, it has been that long since I used it. You do people a disservice by telling order people they should do this. It hurts so much more than it could possibly help them. It hurt me so much that for the last few years, I have only been able to secure contract and consulting positions. Some pay absolutely horribly. Please caution your readers this tech age is not for someone with something to lose.
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