Online networks have benefits

With the hectic lives people are leading today, it’s become almost impossible to keep in touch with people. That’s where social networking comes in.

Whether you’re a student or fresh out of school, social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Pownce, Flickr and the rest have become a godsend for everyone to stay in contact with each other. Friends can easily flag jobs for you, and former professors or teachers can also let you know of any career opportunities.

And though these sites are perfect to stay connected, others, such as LinkedIn, Monster and Workopolis, are more focused on the professional side of things.

“For many, it is a way to keep in touch and share information with friends and family — even if they live in different geographic locations,” says Parham Aarabi, professor of electrical and computer engineering and Canada research chair in Internet video, audio, and image search at the University of Toronto. “For others, like those on Workopolis, Monster and LinkedIn, it is a way of building professional networks of contacts, which may serve useful down the road in someone’s career.”

Various studies, such as the one done by Christine Greenhow from the University of Minnesota, suggest students using social networking sites are practising the kinds of 21st-century skills we want them to develop. But Aarabi says it’s unclear how they do this.

“It is not clear how much these sites help with technical skills and communication skills for the members, but they do help them in building personal and professional networks, which is essential for most careers in today’s day and age,” says Aarabi.

James Cullin, multimedia design production technician program co-ordinator at Humber College, agrees with Aarabi, adding that though these platforms may not teach students anything in terms of tech skills, they do encourage a more relaxed form of communication.

“I think the key benefit from a job hunt perspective is that social networking platforms allow students to more easily keep in touch with their classmates after they graduate,” says Cullin.  “So in that regard, they enhance the prospect of getting a job through a friend.”

It seems that the most important thing social networks offer anyone is how to build contacts and as the old saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

“In today’s world it is a bit of both. You need to have the skills and to know the right people to succeed in the job market,” says Casey Solomon, third-year public relations student at Humber College. “Being part of a social networking site, or having a large social network will help you find out information through word of mouth.”

When it comes down to looking for a job, the more research and contacts you have the better. So, yes, social networks do come in handy to a certain degree.

“They are helpful in giving students and graduates a sense of some of the jobs that are available,” says Thomas Klassen, associate professor, department of political science and school of public policy and administration, York University. “But the sites are just a starting point; applying only to jobs on these sites is a low probability strategy.”