During the past year, social media has literally exploded! Not only has it transformed the way individuals communicate with others, it has significantly changed the way professionals and job seekers network with colleagues and communicate with recruiters and hiring managers.  

In fact, 43 percent of the online community now uses social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. This is up 27 percent from a year ago, according to the Conference Board Consumer Research Center and TNS, the world's largest custom research agency.  

Harnessing the power of social media is particularly important in today’s challenging economy, where candidates are plentiful and jobs are at a premium in many professions and industries. Not only does it give savvy job seekers additional tools to market themselves, it can also help savvy careerists to increase their visibility and enhance their reputation.  

Brave new world of social media

The Conference Board and TNS regularly survey 10,000 households across the country and tracks who's doing what on the Internet. Other key findings according to a June 16, 2009 Conference Board news release are:

• More than half of social networkers log on at least once a day, and the majority log on several times a day.
• The most popular site is Facebook, followed by MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.
• Social networking spans all generations.

Not a fad

These days, one thing is crystal clear: social media is not a fad. "Social media is here to stay," says Lynn Franco, Director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center. "Online social networks are more than just a fad among the younger generation. They're an effective way to keep in touch with people, connect with friends and family, and network with colleagues. Social media will also transform marketing as we know it," explains Franco.  

Harnessing the power of influencers

Social media has certainly changed the rules of marketing and public relations. While it is important for businesses to market themselves effectively, it is equally important for job seekers to market themselves effectively and manage their careers in a proactive way.

"Social media has transformed the way individuals connect and communicate with one another," says Anita Watkins, Senior Vice President at TNS.  

That’s why savvy careerists are incorporating social media as a way to position themselves as experts in their field. Not only can social media help them get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, it can also help to set them apart in the marketplace. 

Barbara K. Mednick, president of BKM Consulting, Inc. (www.bkmconsulting.com) provides strategic marketing communications and public relations consulting and planning, copywriting, and writing/communications training services to a wide variety of clients. You can visit Barbara’s blog at http://www.bkminsights.blogspot.com.