When Facebook started in 2004, it was an instant hit. The website's membership was limited to Harvard University students only and over half of them soon became registered users. The popularity of the social networking site spread quickly and began accepting members from any Ivy League school. After undergoing several transformations, the site's membership base has grown rapidly in four years and is now open to anyone over the age of 13.

Originally, the site was intended for social purposes. Students wanted to connect with each other, share pictures and talk about campus life. No one ever dreamed it would later be used for so much more than just socializing. In fact, some employers are asking for an applicant's Facebook profile, along with the traditional resume and cover letter. Many highly regarded recruiters faithfully use the site to look for candidates while some candidates use it for the sole purpose of marketing their job skills.

According to many of the human resources professionals we spoke with, it is not a bad idea. No one who is relying on the old ways of conducting a job search has been in the career market for a while. Using newspaper classified ads and mailing resumes for finding a new position is so last century. In order to stay competitive, smart job hunters will expand their search tactics to include every technical resource available. Facebook is not the only one, but it is one of the most popular sites of its kind today.

Before you run off to their website, there are a few pros and cons every job hunter should know:

The Pros:

• It's a remarkable career tool that can give you unlimited exposure to potential employers.
• Career recruiters and others are able to find you with a simple Google name search. The job market can come to you as fast as you can send a resume.
• A prominent Facebook profile will allow you to reconnect with former co-workers, colleagues and managers who can help you build job references for new positions.
• Members can network within the site to get the inside track on job openings and career tips. Sometimes word-of-mouth advertising is the best way to find a job!

The Cons:

• Members who enjoyed a wild student life and posted embarrassing pictures, stories and other potentially career-damaging information may want to consider their options.
• Potential employers can discreetly "screen" you based on your Facebook profile. The unethical ones may look for pictures and other identifying information that could be used against you. Is the practice unethical, underhanded, and likely illegal? Yes. Unfortunately, there is no way to prove it as reason for not being hired unless someone is dense enough to admit it. In addition, there is no way of knowing how widespread the practice is.

The Best Facebook Career Tips:

• Keep the Facebook site reserved for your career interest, resume and professional profile. There are many other social networking sites you can use to upload the party pictures. The key is to keep them separate and use Facebook for business and career advantages.
• Facebook offers many career-related applications that will allow you to customize your profile page. Screen each one selectively and choose the ones that can be most useful to your career.
• Use the link to your Facebook profile to market yourself to employers.
• Create a dynamic image of yourself and impress the recruiters! Millions of people will see a solid resume and a professional picture of you.
• Until recently, there was no way to remove unbecoming photos or suggestive content from a profile. The only option you had before early this year was to deactivate the account. Now, if that's the case, not all is lost – you don't have to suffer a tarnished image forever. You can contact Facebook directly and request that the account be deleted.

………………

To learn more or to find interesting insider information about careers, job searching and great resume writing tips, come join our Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17343130479