Facebook Is Not a Face-to-Face

Who doesn’t love to mindlessly troll through photos, posts, and funny cartoons on Facebook?  It’s become part of our everyday lives.  I honestly admit that my morning cup of coffee just isn’t the same without checking my Facebook news feed.

It’s a great way to stay connected with family and friends, promote products and events, and make major and minor announcements.  Where else can you find out that your BFF tried a new yoga class, your cousin got a new dog, and your high school boyfriend got engaged over the weekend?

But what if you’re looking for a job?

It might be hard to hear, but you will never find a job in your pajamas!  Facebook is not the same as looking someone in the face.  And anonymously hiding behind the Internet for 10 hours a day is NOT an effective job search strategy.

The Internet is a fantastic resource for researching companies, finding job openings, and connecting with your network on social media.  However, Facebook should NEVER be used as a substitute for good, old-fashioned face-to-face personal interaction.

If you need to find a job, the single, most important thing you can do is get dressed, turn off your computer, put down your smart phone, and leave the house.  And if you start feeling a little anxious about the Facebook separation, then you may want to look into a social media 12-step program. First, admit you have a problem… 🙂

The numbers don’t lie.  An Internet job search yields about a 4-6% success rate, while networking has a success rate of 75-80% and 90% for executives.  The more people you meet, the more hands you shake, the more times you practice your “Elevator Pitch”, the greater your chances of securing a new position.

Think about joining a job seekers groups, attending a professional networking event, or joining your local chamber of commerce.  Tearing yourself away from Facebook (Twitter, Instagram, Flickr…) and actually conversing with live people is also the best preparation for an interview.

Practice that firm handshake, eye contact, and bright smile…which is certainly something you can’t do on Facebook. Your cousin and old boyfriend won’t even miss you!