There’s no limit to what sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In really can do for you, especially with the kind of economy crisis we are facing today. To find a job is getting harder and harder, and the more connections and diversity you have in your network, whatever it may be on, the better the chance of actually getting into a successful position. A great example for how much social marketing has uplifted those who use it correctly is Mark Gentry, who got a job through Facebook when it seemed as if all other doors had closed on him. Like most of the 2009 graduates, jobs were scarce, and it was of large concern to the graduates how they were going to land the job they needed, or desired. He had applied to over one hundred jobs, and only got one response which unfortunately did not result in a hire.  But, it was when Mark received a friend request on Facebook from his childhood camp counselor, Kevin that things started to change. As Mark and Kevin caught up on each others lives they got on the topic of occupation, which was a subject in which Mark was lacking, and Kevin offered to help. He set up a meeting for Mark with the recruiter at his job and soon enough he was part of the company, with Kevin as his boss. These social websites are the new age way to land yourself huge opportunities both through professional and personal contacts. There are a few guidelines though. As CNN suggests, along with many others, make sure that if you are trying to reap professional benefits from your social marketing sites, that they are in fact professional themselves. Don’t have unnecessary suggestive pictures in your profile, or racy language on posted on your walls; it’s just another excuse for you to be judged without even getting a change. Keep your social site full of your personality, but only the kind of personality you’d like to portray to a potential boss. I don’t know how many examples and stories of success one might need to jump on the bandwagon and get their own social networking sites going, because honestly these networks are taking over more of the media and online communication, and affecting others in more ways, than was even intended by the creators.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/12/news/economy/hired_camp/index.htm?postversion=2009061611