Get ahead at work with social networking websites

Click on the name to view the group and then choose the link labelled Join This Network.

If the network does not exist, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link marked ‘Suggest a new network’.

Choose Work from the Network Type dropdown menu and fill in the form. Networks have to be approved by Facebook, so click on the Submit button to send your request.

Make your own group
It may be that your workplace exists as a group, rather than a network, so try searching for it by clicking on the Groups link in the left-hand menu.

We couldn’t find a Computeractive group, so we clicked on the Create a Group link and submitted our own. From there we were able to invite colleagues and former colleagues to join.

Now we have started to create links to people with connections to our work. Most other social networking sites provide groups ­ on Myspace, for example, you can click on the Groups link above the main search box to look for companies, professions or skills.

But what do you do from there? Well, one way to start boosting your career is to reconnect with former colleagues. They might still be working in the same field and have knowledge of new jobs or freelance opportunities.

Once you’re part of the same group or network on sites such as Facebook, you can also view the friends of other members. There might be someone there who’s worth getting to know and you could always send them a message to say hello or, even better, get your friend or former colleague to put in a word for you.

Before you do so, however, have a good look through your own profile and consider whether someone you’d like to get to know professionally would be impressed by it (see ‘Too much information’ below).

Professional links
Mainstream sites such as Facebook and Myspace are great for finding old workmates but a new breed of networking site that focuses specifically on working relationships could be a more direct way to get up the career ladder. Linked In, Viadeo and Ryze all provide ways of linking to old school and college friends, and existing colleagues, as well as getting introductions to new contacts and finding jobs.

A profile on a dedicated career networking site gives you the chance to promote yourself, so when building your profile don’t be shy about trumpeting your achievements. Include your qualifications but stress what you have done in the real world and how you have made a difference to your employer.

Keep it real; don’t make claims you can’t substantiate. Treat your profile like an online CV ­ in fact, if you’re sending a job application, include your business network profile address. Linked In lets you personalise your profile.