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Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media in Searching for a Job

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media in a Job Search

Executive Summary In recent years, the amount of people with access to the internet has grown immensely. This has caused an enormous boom in people using social media. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can be used to connect with friends, but also make connections with professionals and other people that give you job opportunities. While Facebook and Twitter are used by a small portion of job recruiters, LinkedIn is by far the top social media site to find a job. There are some disadvantages to using social media to find a job, but the advantages greatly outweigh the bad.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media in a job search.
In 2014, 87% of the population of the United States had internet access, up 7% from 2013. That is over 300 million people that will be able to freely surf the internet (Internet Users, 2014). Many of them have some sort of social media account. These accounts are a great way to meet new people, keep acquainted with old friends, and even search for new sources of employment. There are some disadvantages to using social media sites to find employment, but when used correctly, they can be a great tool to find new jobs.
Social Media Sites
Finding a job using social media can be a daunting task. With hundreds of different sites to choose from, finding the right one is a very important decision. There are many factors that should go into your decision; how many users are on the site, and how many recruiters search the site for potential employees, among other things. The top 3 social media sites for finding employment are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Facebook is the second most trafficked website in the world, only behind Google, and 85% of Internet users have a Facebook account (Hines, n.d.). The large number of users on Facebook

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