Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy ... And Pays the Bills

CHAPTER 14

Job Hunting and Social Media

Two-thirds of adult Internet users now say they use a social networking site like Facebook, LinkedIn, or MySpace, more than twice as many as in 2008, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Among the boomer-aged segment of Internet users ages 50–64, social networking site usage on a typical day grew a significant 60 percent, between 2010 and 2011, from 20 percent to 32 percent. “Many baby boomers are beginning to make a trip to the social media pool part of their daily routine,” says Mary Madden, a senior research specialist and co-author of the Pew report.

All ethnic and age groups drive the rise, but women stand out as the most avid users, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Seven out of 10 women said they used the social media sites, followed closely by six in 10 men.

If you’re one of the many older Americans working, or planning to work, into your 60s, you may already be one of the new devotees. If not, get on board.

Most job searches nowadays are via the Internet. Yep, social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and most recently, Google+ have transformed how you job hunt. As I note in Chapter 12, “Strategies for 50+ Job Hunters,” you must be comfortable with computers, basic software programs, web navigation, e-mail, and mobile technology.

There’s a view out there that once you cross over ...