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Why using your Facebook Friends to get referred into jobs beats job boards

Why using your Facebook Friends to get referred into jobs beats job boards

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Job seekers have never been more empowered as they are in today’s job search landscape. The sheer amount of tools, advice and sites they have at their disposal is truly amazing. This is especially true when it comes to using social networking sites like Facebook and Linkedin.

Although each of these sites are used for different purposes (personal vs professional),  they do have something in common to aid your job search. They both tell you what company your friends currently work at. That is why I created tool called Jobs With Friends to help you leverage that important data so you can more easily get referred.

When it comes getting hired, statistics prove that if you know someone at the company you want to work at you are much more likely to be hired. Consider these stats;

  • Referred candidates are twice as likely to land an interview (source: NY Times)
  • Referred candidates are three to four times more likely to be hired (source: CareerXRoads)
  • Only 7% of applicants come from referrals, but referrals account for about 40% of hires (source: JobVite)

So you can see how important it is to know someone who works there when applying for a job. It’s a win-win situation for all parties. The employee who refers you is likely to get a reward, the employer gets a new employee they trust and you get a job!

More job seekers need to take advantage of tools like Facebook to make their networking more personal. But remember these are just tools. Its up to you to ask for the referral or make a connection request. In the end, its still just people hiring people!

 

 

Comments

    • We all know networking is the best way to get a job, technology is just helping a bit more.

  2. Krantc-I swear by LInkedIn. It is the most effective way to network and make contacts. And once you build a network, you have access to all of their contacts as well.

  3. I’ve never gotten a job through Facebook, but I’ve landed interviews through my LinkedIn friends. I didn’t get the job, but I wasn’t yet qualified so it was good enough that I had an interview.

    • As I always tell my students, the goal is t get the interview then the goal changes to get the offer. Most people think it is the job, but you just want the choice to accept it or not.

  4. I think social media sites can be a double-edged sword when it comes to job recruitment. While it can be really handy to tap into your social media for networking possibilities, you do have to be careful what you are publishing under your name.

    It’s hard to be cognizant of everything when you’re going back and forth with your friends and spout off about something that you end up paying the price for later. (Because it’s forever immortalized, internet style).

    • I think comes down to judgment! That is also what employers are concerned with. It is just a matter of thinking before commenting.

  5. Yes krant, social networking is now a way to get jobs as well. In the future, 10years down the line social network will be the only job boards and sites and 90% of jobs will be through linkedin and Facebook

    • Nt to disagree, I still feel there will always be face to face networking. Social media will supplement the more more standard form of networking, but I doubt that it will replace it.

  6. How to Get Started With Social Networking Employers are increasing using social networking sites to attract and recruit candidates and to accept applications for employment. Here’s how to get started on social networking for job seekers.

    • Technology provides additional solutions to the job search, but it is just another source.

  7. That looks like an amazing tool, and I’ll check it out for my next job search. I 100% agree that leveraging your network is the way to get a job (or just about anything).

    • Networking is the best way to get a job and technology is enhancing the process.

  8. My first job at the airport was because of a friend’s referral. Then it was my referral that got my friends jobs. In all the jobs I’ve had referrals was a big part of a many of them. Seems like I’ve had a few jobs but in searching for the right career it was good to test the waters. 🙂

    I actually just checked out that Jobs with Friends and seems like a really great concept. I’ll have to look at it more in depth.

    • Networking has entered the new technology age, but it is still relying on the people we know.

  9. I agree that networking is key but I am not sure about Facebook. Using the friends from FB and hoping they have a LinkedIN account or just reaching out to them I can see doing. Some of my best career moves and highest paying jobs came from networking with people who know about jobs that weren’t even posted.

    • I think you need to look at it as just extending your network or contacts. Job leads usually come from a friend of a friend which works well with Facebook or social media.

  10. Nearly all of the recruiter calls I receive come from my LinkedIn Profile. I also have no problem reaching out to folks that work for a company either I am interested in or who has contacted me.

    • Facebook is just an extension of your network and the additional people they may know.

  11. Referrals are absolutely the best way to get a job. Sometimes you don’t even have to interview! My current manager had worked with me on a few projects and when a spot on his team opened up, he encouraged me to apply. Needless to say, I work for him now. Facebook is just another network that can get you those connections in companies that you want to work at – or managers of teams you want to work on.

    • I agree, Facebook and social media extends your network and contacts. Technology has made networking much easier and more effective.

  12. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn, and think that social networking in general is becoming a more ingrained part of careers and business by the day. Just be careful what you type and post!

    • Technology and social media can really supplement networking. It is also a double edge sword, you can easily shoot yourself in the foot.

  13. I’m definitely not as good with the technology as I should be. I do have a linked in page, but I barely update it (gotta get on that). I might be missing opportunities because I’m not staying up to date on my personal networking.

    • I am constantly learning new things partially for my students, but also for me. I got an iPad a few months ago and I am learning many new things. Not bad for an old guy!

    • Absolutely, technology such as Facebook and other social media has made net working easier!

  15. How to Get Started With Social Networking Employers are increasing using social networking sites to attract and recruit candidates and to accept applications for employment. Here’s how to get started on social networking for job seekers.