The world no longer operates by the same rules and strategies it did even a few years ago, and that can be said especially for business. With all that has happened across the globe in the last decade between political, social, and technological movements, communities, individuals, and companies have had to rethink the way they do business.

One of the best examples of the intersection between these elements is with online job posting boards. Gone are the days when job fairs and handshakes dictated the majority of who and how people were hired for various careers. While the adage that “life is about who you know”, will likely never fade, the way in which people associate, communicate, and connect has shifted in drastic measures to online and virtual mediums. There are, as with any shifts technological, economic, and cultural results, positive and negative, but it is typically those people who tend not to embrace the changes who get stuck.

The adoption and engagement with modern business processes that incorporate a diversification of classic techniques as well as a sprinkling of some popular and emerging trends will not only help people to stay relevant, but socially present. Being that the internet has opened up, literally, whole new worlds in which people can connect, collaborate, and conduct business, the individual who is unaware or disengaged from these mediums will be operating at a handicap.

This is because computers, AI, and virtual communities have transformed not only the way that business is conducted, but how careers connections are made. No matter the career you may be in or are considering shifting into, the exploration and utilization of online communities to do so can be immensely helpful. Here are some ways that online communities can help launch your career.

Staying Connected

Nearly everyone on the planet is connected by the internet, that means whoever you may need or want to connect with can be found or reached by an online medium. If you are interested in starting a career in healthcare or are simply curious about what that may look like, reaching out to people who are already in that field would be a great place to start.

By asking the right questions and finding the answers you will be much better equipped to make an informed decision about what roles may best suit your interests and abilities. There are people who have gone before you and learned how to navigate the healthcare system. The benefits of connecting with an online community are numerous, so whether it is a seminar, medical college, or nursing podcast, you could be pointed in the right direction.

Whether connecting with a first-year nurse or a recently retired health administrator, there is something to be learned from anyone. If you need to further your career and are curious about what certifications would be most suited to a specific position, talking with the right person can save a lot of time and energy digging through websites.

Finding out which companies your fellow alums have found work with can also help to narrow down the list of potential companies to work for, and even offer you an insider perspective. While some of that information can be found on job board postings, the information can be brief and often emotionally biased. Speaking with people directly about how and why a company works the way it does will better inform a final decision.

Using Social Media

Social media is woven into nearly every aspect of modern life today, for better or for worse. The way in which people choose to use the applications can have huge impacts. A business that does not have an online presence is not likely to be seen, and the same can be said for people. If you are not on social media, either for personal or professional reasons, then you are missing out on the ability to connect with hundreds of thousands of people. It may not be the first person you talk with, but that person may have a friend, neighbor, or cousin that is in the healthcare industry.

Generally, people are open to sharing knowledge and connections, so putting yourself out there by just reaching out when you see an opportunity genuinely has the potential to change your life, or your career.

On the other side of that scenario, you may just be the person that others are looking for. You may have that unique background of experience, of cultural awareness, or creative insight that a company has been looking for. By displaying your personal list of accomplishments and experience someone will eventually see it. It may not be your future employer who sees it first, could just be a friend they play golf with once a month, but the knowledge of their needs is enough to connect you both. The rest will be up to you.

Getting Involved

There are clubs and groups for just about any subject matter nowadays—  even the history of nursing. Business professionals, companies, forums, seminars, or even biking groups. The niche is out there to be found. When it comes to a career in healthcare, interconnectedness is already built into the operations and systems.

References, specialists, and colleges all collaborate with each other to make the most of their ability to care for the public. Connecting to the clubs or organizations that represent that niche is very easy to do through online means. The only thing holding you back from launching a career in healthcare is connecting with the right person.