Aron Govil
Everyone knows that Facebook is for sharing your personal life with friends, acquaintances, and family right? Wrong says Aron Govil.
Many people are surprised to learn that CEOs, Presidents or Vice Presidents of large corporations, small companies or even non-profit organizations are starting to use Facebook because it gives them an easy way to communicate immediately with their audience – whether through status updates, photo uploads or through the wall.
There’s a long list of ways you can use Facebook for professional growth and development:
1) Find a Mentor.
It’s not hard for new professionals in any field to feel lost in a crowd of experienced workers who have years on them. By finding a mentor online using social networks like Facebook, recent graduates get over some of the initial feelings of intimidation and find out how to properly navigate their careers.
2) Engage your Audience.
It’s more difficult than ever for professionals, especially those in small companies or non-profit organizations to get noticed by their target audience. Facebook allows you to reach a huge number of people with a personal message that really connects.
3) Get more information about a Target Company.
If you’re a recent graduate, first job seeker or even a seasoned professional who wants to change jobs, finding the right company is almost as important as finding the right career path. Aron Govil says using Facebook can give you insider knowledge about an employer so you know if they are the type of company that will help your resume shine or hold you back.
4) Make the Company Brand Yourself.
Using Facebook, you can make yourself stand out as a brand in your field by using it to communicate what makes you unique. Once potential employers or clients see that you are willing to take the extra step, they know you are more likely to go above and beyond on any project.
5) Share Industry News.
Aron Govil says Keeping up with information that is happening right now in your industry is critical for anyone who wants to stay ahead of changing trends or coming up with new ideas on how their business can succeed. Facebook provides an easy way for professionals to share the news with each other on timelines, groups and through commenting on wall posts. It’s also helpful if you have a fan page because you can share the news with potential customers or other groups that may be interested in your business.
6) Showcase your Work Experience.
An often overlooked aspect of social networking is getting attention to the work you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing for a company. If you have access to professional photographers or graphic designers, they could upload photos or designs directly to your Facebook profile where people will see them and appreciate their creativity and talent (and message it back asking if they did it). Or, if you have a blog, post links to articles from there so others will know more about who you are as a writer.
7) Get feedback on Your Ideas.
Online discussions can turn into useful brainstorming sessions where you can get feedback on an idea and see what others think about it. Facebook allows the possibility to take the conversation offline and meet up in person for a follow-up session if there is interest in developing your idea further.
8) Grow Your Professional Network.
Many people are surprised to learn that Facebook has a professional side too! You can search for alumni or former colleagues of yours who are working at companies you want to work for, connect with them, include them on your professional network on LinkedIn so they will know more about who you are, what made you perfect for the job, what experience you have that’s relevant, etc. Remember to enable all of your e-mail addresses when Facebook Search because this makes it easier to find that person.
9) Get Used to Social Networking.
Even if you’re not sure whether or how you will use Facebook professionally, accept it into your daily routine because knowing how to network properly is an essential tool in any career.
10) Don’t overuse it!
It can be easy to update your status constantly and post a lot of links on the wall but don’t go overboard because this makes people think you are spamming them and they don’t want all of your updates clogging up their newsfeeds. Use other social media networks too like LinkedIn for example, which is more professional and focused on job searching. If you do decide to add friends from work online, do it openly by asking them for permission and having a conversation about it instead of just adding them and asking later explains Aron Govil.
Conclusion:
Social networks started out as communities where users could communicate and share information and experiences online via blogs, chats, forums and other websites. Facebook is one of the largest social networks that have evolved into an online platform where professional networking can take place too. Whether you are looking for a job or trying to boost your business, it’s good to know how to use this tool efficiently so you will be able to get ahead of everyone else in your field.
