Facebook is one of the most popular social media services out there today. Although at first glance it may seem geared only toward personal relationships, you can also use the social networking features for professional networking–just make sure that you think it through first. If you are going to combine business with pleasure, you have to have a plan for doing so. Those who use Facebook for networking should be careful about the personal information that they post on the site, as potential co-workers or clients can see it.

That said, Facebook can be a great tool for keeping in touch with people in the field that you work in. Look up old contacts and see who you can find. Join groups that are related to your industry. Post updates that show people what you are working on. Another thing you can do is slant your profile toward showing off your work skills rather than sharing what movies and quotes you like. There is room for a job history, and adding an abbreviated resume, along with contact information may help you on a job search. There are many ways to make your Facebook account work for you professionally–just be careful not to overdo the personal information if you intend on using it for your career.

Facebook gives users a great networking opportunity–groups. Most of the free social networking sites have these, but on Facebook they are fairly easy to find and use. First of all, think of a keyword that will connect you with people in your field. For example, Web designers may want to type in "designers" to see what the return brings. Once you have entered a term in the search box, simply select "groups" and the site will give you a list of results that you can browse through. Another way to find industry groups is to look on the profile pages of other people in your field and see what groups they belong to.

There are several advantages to joining these groups. One is that you can raise your profile by being a member and you can also post on the group wall. Some groups have active discussion boards which can be a great way to network. Another perk of being involved with groups in your career field is that there are often a good amount of updates. Many times these groups will post current industry news or helpful tips. The best part is that there is no obligation. You can spend time on these pages when you have it, and skip participating when you are busy. This makes joining Facebook groups a win-win situation.