Using Facebook to Further Your Career

We all know and love Facebook for staying in touch with our friends and family, sharing photos, and posting the latest viral video. Have you ever thought about how it could help you further your career though? When I was in college we were often told about how Facebook and could easily damage career prospects, which is certainly true – yes, I’m talking about those party photos.. On the other side though, the platform actually offers some really great career opportunities. So what exactly am I talking about? Facebook Groups!

 

What are Facebook Groups?

When you think of professional networking, your first thought is probably LinkedIn right? Well, I’m here to talk to you about how Facebook actually offers a lot of networking opportunities as well. Beyond your Facebook newsfeed and profiles, there are thousands of Facebook Groups (a lot of which are private) where people from all over the world are connecting with shared interests – from professional groups for entrepreneurs, small business owners and bloggers to industry related groups for marketing and social media professionals. Each group has moderators who manage the group and often post different prompts throughout the week. Beyond the prompts, users will leave comments, pose questions or share requests of services or help they’re looking for. No matter what you’re interested in.. There’s a Facebook group for the topic. 
 

Why are Facebook Groups Beneficial?

Facebook groups are great because they bring together groups of people interested in a similar topic – making for great networking opportunities. Plus, the highlights will appear in your newsfeed, which you probably already spend a lot of time on. This makes it easy to jump into conversations and engage when topics interest you without having to check out another platform or website. Personally, I like Facebook groups because the interactions feel more casual than some groups on LinkedIn or other professional networking websites. 

So why do I think Facebook groups are so awesome? Since becoming an entrepreneur and launching my own digital agency I’ve used Facebook groups to connect with other business owners and have actually secured a number of projects and leads. I’ve also been able to secure press features and recommend several of my connections for job opportunities. Job and exposure options?! Both ideal for young professionals working on making a name for themselves and looking for networking or job opportunities.

 

What Groups Do You Suggest?

While there are certainly Facebook groups for just about every topic, some industries are a better fit when it comes to professional opportunities. I happen to be an entrepreneur in the PR, social media, branding & web design industry.
That being said, here’s a look at some of my Facebook groups that you may want to look into.
• PR, Marketing, and Media Czars: Nearly 20k members in the PR, marketing and media industry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/171303432941423/ 
• Online Business BFFs: This group was started by entrepreneur Melyssa Griffin and includes nearly 60k small business owners and bloggers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/blogandbizbffs/ 
• The Rising Tide Society: This group is full of nearly 60k creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. If you’re interested in photography or the wedding industry this is a great group too because there are a lot of professional photographers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/therisingtidesociety/ 
• Social Media Managers: This is a group of over 12k social media professionals engaging in conversations about the industry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialmediamanagers/ 

I think the most important thing when it comes to Facebook groups is trying a bunch of different ones out! You’ll find some are a better fit for your interests so it’s a good idea to get a taste of a bunch and then focus on the ones that are the best fit for you. So get out there and happy Facebook networking! 

Go Ducks!

Anna Osgoodby
BS Journalism Class of '09
anna@boldandpop.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaosgoodby
Connect with Anna on Twitter @AnnaOsgoodby