"I don't see why I need to join Facebook or LinkedIn"

I hear this all the time from jobseekers: "I keep getting invitations to join LinkedIn or Facebook or some other site. I don't see why I should. And aren't they dangerous?" To be blunt, I only get these comments and questions from jobseekers of a certain age -- an age that grew up decades before social networking and isn't comfortable with it.

If you are of a "certain age", then one of your primary concerns is how to get employers to get past any subtle or not-so-subtle age prejudice. When considering an older jobseeker, employers wonder if you can stay current with trends or learn new things or have energy to keep up with the pace in their business. "Of course I can!" you say. I agree -- but your refusal to learn about and participate in social networking is sending the wrong message to employers who know that it's a primary way to build relationships in the modern world.

It's the age of social media. During the Kansas City snowstorm last week, I heard a reporter say "It's nothing to write home about or Twitter or post on your wall (Facebook)." Pretty soon they are going to drop the "write home about."

Of course you want to be smart -- I always say that you shouldn't put anything online you wouldn't want your employer or your grandmother to see (and it's likely they are both online). Everything can be Googled. But there is still plenty you can do. And be honest with yourself, are you really afraid of losing privacy, or just afraid of trying something you don't quite understand? If you have fears, ask those who use Facebook or LinkedIn if they've had problems and how they avoid those problems.

Check out these articles in this blog:

Here are some other articles I wrote about LinkedIn
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/05/social-networking-sites-in-job-search.html
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/07/increasing-your-linkedin-connections.html
http://www.betweenjobskc.com/2008/07/increasing-your-linkedin-connections_23.html

There are also many, many other articles online on using social networking in your job search. The very fact that there is so much information and that you are receiving so many "invites" should tell you that social networking should be integral to your job search toolbox. And that's something to "write home about."