Flexibility remains one of the most rewarding features of a career as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. Working with various ages and populations as well as in diverse settings allows audiologists and SLPs to explore all areas of their profession and work around the world. However, along with excitement, changing specialties or even just jobs might bring uncertainty and questions.

When pursuing a new career path, we require many resources, and social media provides a place to find them. Logging into platforms such as Facebook isn’t just for liking your friends’ photos anymore. Leveraging social media when changing jobs helps connect you with other professionals working in the same setting or geographical area. Whether linking you with clinical fellows or experienced clinicians, social media networking can ease the transition into a new position and answer many of your questions.

Here are some key ways to use your favorite social media sites when thinking about, looking for or starting a new job.

Facebook. Facebook groups exist for nearly every setting and specialty in communications sciences and disorders professions. For example, SLPs can join a school-based group and connect with nearly 20,000 peers from all over the world. Audiologists can enjoy the inside connection through Audiology Antics and Anecdotes. Discussions in these groups range from treatment techniques to questions regarding state and district qualifications for students. You can also search Facebook for resources such as products, assessments, blogs or other businesses. If you “like” these pages, you’ll receive helpful updates from them.

Hashtags. Use these to find specific content on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. For example, an SLP looking to find information about providing intervention for middle school students provision could search for #MiddleSchoolSLP for content related to that topic. Other popular hashtags include #AudPeeps, #SLPeeps, #EdAud, #slp2b, #PreKslp, #audiologists, #schoolSLP and many more. Searching on these hashtags lets you connect with professionals in a specific area or find information relevant to a certain work setting.

Pinterest. This site hosts boards devoted to particular topics or professions with visual information and links to treatment ideas, professional sites or blogs, and other resources. Type a specialization, population or keyword into the site’s search bar to find related pins. You can find resources for your new position as well as sites and other professionals with an online presence and interest in the same area.

LinkedIn. Connect with others prior to interviewing or beginning your new position using this professional networking site. You can search for other people working for potential employers or in a specific work setting by searching for key words and phrases, such as educational audiologist. You can easily click on an employer’s name on a person’s profile on LinkedIn (Facebook offers a similar function) to see all people who list a company as a present or past employer. Taking time to connect with others can help you find answers to workplace-specific questions, quickly begin social relationships, and more.

All of these sites—and their related apps—offer options to ease the transition into a new setting, specialty or position. The connections and resources available can help even the most experienced clinicians to expand their professional networks and knowledge. Of course, online etiquette is even more important when using social media as a professional. Good social media manners uphold your reputation and protect your career connections. Take some time to tap into the positive, professional aspects of social media and find the most useful platforms to meet your needs.