Dear Classy Career Girl, I purposely have no friends (I’m a happy loner).  I’ve been that way my whole life.  I have no online accounts whatsoever (Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, etc). Will I not be hired just because of THAT?  Thanks, Happy Loner

Networking Advice: Do I Need Social Media Accounts To Get Hired?

Dear Happy Loner,

No, you do not need to have social media accounts to get hired.  After you apply, recruiters may look around the Internet for more information about you but they are mostly looking to find negative information about you.  If they find nothing, it doesn’t mean that they will rule you out.  Instead, hopefully it means they will call you in for an interview.

BUT, since this blog is about networking and reaching your full potential, I do have to say that I don’t think you can be the best you can be without taking the time to reach out and connect with other people.  I know what it is like to be a happy loner – I could sit and read a book by myself for the entire weekend.  Yes, we can learn from books and being by ourselves but there is so much more we can learn from interacting with other people.

Dear Happy Loner,
No, you do not need to have social media accounts to get hired.  After you apply, recruiters may look around the Internet for more information about you but they are mostly looking to find negative information about you.  If they find nothing, it doesn’t mean that they will rule you out.  Instead, hopefully it means they will call you in for an interview.

By building your network on Facebook or Linkedin, you will have many people at your fingertips to help you find your next job. Networking expands your world view to include experiences different from your own.  It provides you a support team that can give you advice and help you out when you have an issue.

Happy Loner – I challenge you to meet with one new person this month and then write down what you learn from them after the meeting.

Good luck!
Classy Career Girl

(This edition of Ask Classy Career Girl was sponsored by London jobs, charity jobs and environment jobs).

Readers – What is your advice for Happy Loner?