If you have found yourself searching for a job in this economy, you may have also found yourself in a quandary. The job search has almost exclusively moved online. And online networking has become truly key in finding your Dream Job.

In this series we will highlight the best social sites for making job network connections and review the benefits of each one. The first one is the best for job connections: Linked In.

The benefits of LinkedIn are numerous and include:

Online Resume- The profile option on LinkedIn allows you add your work experience, including the employer, dates of employment and more. Anyone can go to your page and get some basic information on your past (or current) employers and you can also use the Work History option to list any volunteer positions that you hold. How much you want on your profile is up to you. Profile page example.

Recommendations- The recommendations option truly sets LinkedIn apart from many other social sites. You can recommend your connections and they can recommend you. Others can view what is written, if you choose. It’s a great way to give potential employers the ability to view positive opinions of you. And it is completely acceptable in LinkedIn land to request recommendations from your connections if they have worked with you in some way.

Pull-Ins- From your Twitter feed (we will cover Twitter in another post) to your blog, LinkedIn can pull various applications into your homepage which means that not only can your connections see your resume, but also other things that you are working on, expertise from your blog and your interaction with other people online (should you choose).

Connections- LinkedIn has sophisticated technology in place to recommend connections to you. When you are looking at job listings, for instance, it will tell you if you are connected to that employer in some way or if someone in your network is connected with them. This can give you the ability to connect with someone connected more closely (and often working for) that organization. In addition, LinkedIn also recommends people that you might know in a sidebar and lets you know when new colleagues from your listed organizations arrive on LinkedIn.

Groups- LinkedIn has many professional groups available where users post discussions and job opportunities. You can choose to receive a daily or weekly digest which includes a briefing of all the activity in that group. Sign up for groups in your area of expertise and reply within the discussions when there are subject matters that you can talk about. You can also befriend those people within those groups.

> Join LinkedIn

> Search for healthcare jobs on Hospital Dream Jobs

by Liat Nachman

When you are seeking employment with a new company, you should always include a resume cover letter with your resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce your resume to the employer and to declare your interest in a position with the company. It is the first thing that a prospective employer looks at when evaluating you for a position with the company.
As such it is as important, if not more important than your resume and the interview itself. This is because if your cover letter isn’t good, the employer will never see your resume and you will never get an interview.

The following is what you should include in your cover letter:
1. Elaborate on your employment objective – In your resume, there is a section at the beginning where you put what your employment objective is. In your resume cover letter this is where you have the opportunity to elaborate more on your employment objective. The objective should be clear and concise and should make a prospective employer interested in bringing you in for an interview.
2. How you found the job and what you know about the company – When beginning your resume cover letter, you should talk about how you found the job. If you found it on a web site, list the name and the URL of the web site. If you really want to impress a prospective employer list some information about the company that attracts you to the company. This will show the prospective employer that you did your homework and you really want to work there, which is always a good thing.
3. Be concise and to the point – The cover letter is not the time to write your life story. Make sure you avoid rambling and keep your letter clear and to the point. Generally speaking, if your cover letter is more than a page long, it is way too long. Your goal is to get them just enough information so that they will want to call you in for an interview. They will find out everything they need to know to make a hiring decision at the interview, not just from reading the cover letter.
4. Include your qualifications – The resume cover letter should expand on your qualifications. It should highlight the key points of the resume that makes you uniquely qualified for the position. This is why you should always use a specific cover letter for a specific position. One of the worst things you can do is have a standard cover letter that you use for each and every position you apply for. Employers will pick up on this and you won’t get called in for an interview.
5. Finally, you won’t believe how many people forget this in their resume cover letter. You need to include several ways to contact you. You should include your phone number, your email address and your address. With your email address, you should have a professional email address. If your only email address is youngthughustler@yahoo.com, sign up for another free email address that is more professional.

These guidelines will help you get more interviews.

About the Author

For more information and tips on writing resume cover letters effectively, visit ProResumeSecrets.

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by John Chase

Gone are the days of simply mailing your resume, receiving a call, shaking hands at the interview, and agreeing on a start date for that new job. The Internet has taken over the recruiting landscape, and everyone is required to submit a resume online. While that brings greater efficiency to the process for employers, it can be awfully maddening for job seekers.

But it doesn’t have to be that way if you know how to navigate the system. (And by all means, if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment).

Consider these tips before pressing “submit” to send your resume:

• Search job boards and the websites of employers that appeal to you.
• Print out the job postings that you’re interested in pursuing before you apply.
• Use a highlighter to mark the keywords and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities.
• Compare those words and phrases to the language that appears in your current resume.
• Figure out how and where to add the most relevant keywords to your resume, assuming you have the specific knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Applicant tracking systems will search for keyword matches — the more matches, the better, which often determines if a recruiter opts to view your resume.
• Once you’re confident that your resume reflects a strong match, go ahead and submit that targeted resume online.
• If the system requests a cover letter, write a short one that expresses why you’re a strong match and why you’d like to join the organization. This is a chance to tout your research on the role.
• Never submit a generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter. If you really want the position, you’ll customize all documents for each job.

Once you apply, get to work to find an internal referral to make a personal introduction. Here’s how:

• Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.
• Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn or Facebook, which boast a combined 60 million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection.
• Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.-
• Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.
• Follow up with a call or email to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, “Did you get my resume?” Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You’ll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the email.
• Don’t know the name of the right person? Cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn’t work, do a Web search on the term “recruiter” or “HR director” along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you’re trying to find. LinkedIn is another resource to find the correct name.
• Stay top of mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you’re welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who’ll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you’re politely persistent without crossing over to a pest.
• Ask them directly for advice on how and when to follow up. A simple question, “What’s the best way to keep in touch?” will give you the details you need to stay ahead of the pack.

These resume tips should help you in your job search. And if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment.

About the Author

John is a DJ and radio producer by trade who has performed in the U.S., Russia, Germany, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and India. Through a strange twist of fate he found himself working in the debt consolidation and debt settlement field in Chicago. John has a great interest in charity work as well.

His other interests include fitness, science & technology, modern medicine, politics, world events and pop culture.

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