Word on the street is if you haven’t received an invitation to join Facebook over the past few months you’d have to question where are my friends.... and seriously ask yourself how unpopular you really are... Well that might be going to extremes but you would have to agree this Facebook has emerged seemingly out of nowhere and become huge in the social networking space.

A recent analysis demonstrates the growth in Facebook's profile. Between mid-April and the end of June, visits to Facebook by Australian users grew by 246%. Searches for the term 'Facebook' also rose by 93% during that time.

So how can recruiters capitalise on this?

Social media is an increasingly popular medium in which virtually anyone with internet access can add internet content. Almost any of these sites has some potential for commercial usefulness, but you need to be careful.

It can be very difficult to get noticed on some of the larger social media sites. Digg, for example, one of the largest and most popular social bookmarking sites, can make it very difficult to get to the front and get noticed.

This is because a lot of the users on Digg - especially the ones with the power to get you noticed - are there more for their own personal glory (to be a top ‘Digger’ by suggesting popular articles) than because they care about what you have to say.

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Link In are becoming more and more frequent among recruiters. They are using these sites to re- connect with old candidates they have previously met. They are also using these sites as an internal mechanism to call upon colleagues networks. It practically does the work for itself. And is a way to reach passive jon seekers without spending big dollars on print advertising.

Take a look at Linked In for example. One if the sections asks you to fill in your employment details. Past and present, it is almost like you are filling in an online resume., You then have the option to be searched for positions available. Face Book also has employment networks which can give recruiters a good indication of the type of industry you work in and of course by looking at your career details and what positions you held. A nice source of information for a head hunter...