By Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer
The social networking website Pinterest seems to be all anyone can talk about these days, including me. This "Virtual Pinboard" allows users to create pinboards on any topic they want and pin things they find interesting onto said boards. Users can browse pinboards created by other users, re-pin their images or follow them to see all of their pins.
Naturally we here at The Work Buzz were intrigued by Pinterest and wanted to explore it from a job-seeker perspective. While the site is still relatively new -- and we're still learning new things about it ourselves -- we wanted to share some ways we found to use the site during a job search.
You can use it to:
Discover your passions. Perhaps you're a job seeker who is just starting out, or maybe you're a workforce veteran but are looking to change careers. Let's say you're pursuing a job in architecture; you can go to the architecture category on Pinterest and get inspired by the different images you find. Or if you aren't sure what you're truly passionate about, you can browse through the different categories -- ranging from women's apparel to photography to art. If you are drawn to a certain category and keep going back for more, perhaps that's an industry worth exploring for your next job.
Get the facts. Pinterest can be used to find information about any topic under the sun. Not only do people post images, but they also post articles, infographics and how-to videos. If, for example, you're interested in social media jobs, you can type in "social media trends" in the search box and related pins/boards/people will pop up in your results. If you're a recent or soon-to-be college graduate, you can check boards from The National Association of Colleges and Employers to find relevant employment statistics. Or head to CareerBuilder's infographics board for economy and job-related facts.
Build a portfolio. If you're in a creative or design-related field, Pinterest is a great place to build your portfolio without having to develop your own website. You can create a board showcasing your design work or pin your visually-appealing résumé. It's an easy way to share links with potential employers, and it also shows that you're up on the latest social media and networking trends. One note of caution: Pinterest can't be used solely to sell yourself or your products; therefore, you'll need to diversify your pins by including other non-personal images or ideas that inspire you.
More Advice and Complete MSN article
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