Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have created new ways to seek out job opportunities to users who can make the most of social media. Jennifer Chiu, a 24-year-old recent graduate from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), clinched her role as a journalist with The Colac Herald (Victoria) through Facebook and with the help of her lecturer.
Jennifer said: "I added my lecturers on Facebook after the completion of my degree. One of my lecturers posted a status update about a newspaper job in the country.
"She then put me in touch with one of Colac Herald's journalists and I took it from there," Jennifer explained.
Facebook has proven to be a great tool to keep in touch but this mixing of professional and social lives has to be managed carefully.
Employers have been known to check up on prospective employees' online profiles if they are public and inappropriate online posts can lead to real-world trouble.
John Sawers, Britain’s Secret Intelligence chief, was criticised in the media when his wife posted photos of the Sawers family’s vacation, raising questions on how much information should be shared on social networking websites.
"The moment you start adding people who could have a say in your career, you have to become very careful with your posts and pictures. All these things have an impact on your reputation," added Jennifer.
It's not just your reputation at risk. In May 2010, Nona Belomesoff, an 18-year-old girl from Sydney, was murdered after being promised a job through a stranger she had befriended through Facebook.
It is advisable to always ask to meet the other party in a crowded and well-lit public place should there be a potential job opening through a social networking platform.
Facebook is a great way to get noticed by potential employers and be looped in on job opportunities but comes with risks. Never compromise your personal safety when job hunting.
If you are concerned about mixing your professional and personal personas, keep a separate profile on another site such as LinkedIn and be cautious about what you reveal about yourself online.
Find journalism courses from a range of Australian education providers.