The anonymous world of internet job sites offers a wealth of knowledge and enables you to broadcast your resume to a vast audience. However, while internet sites are becoming more effective in matching job seekers with employers, according to CNN.com most experts agree that networking is still the best way to find your next job.



Ironically, in the race to attract notice from unknown HR associates, or worse, resume scanning software, as a job seekers you may be ignoring one of the most powerful items in your job seeking toolbox: Social Networking.

LinkedIn, a social networking site dedicated to professionals, claims to have 39 million members including executives from all Fortune 500 companies. It offers a unique opportunity for you, as a job seeker, to take control of your job search by blending two powerful job seeking tools: The Internet and Networking.

LinkedIn users tend to focus on their own list of contacts. They use the search tool find look up names of well known and even barely known colleagues, friends, neighbors, classmates, etc. Building your LinkedIn network is a valuable exercise, but it is only a first step when it comes to finding your next employment opportunity. The real power of LinkedIn lies in a second step which is using the employer search option. Unfortunately, many people never take this step.

Let's say you've heard of a position opening at XYZ Company. You have been watching this company for some time and it is at the top of your list of places you want to work. Knowing how powerful it can be to have a direct contact within the company, you turn to your online network to see if anyone you know works or previously worked at the XYZ Company. Then comes the reality check. It could take hours to go through every individual on your connection list to see if they have ever worked at XYZ Company. Do their connections have an inside contact with your target company. It could take weeks to investigate this.

No need to panic, because there is a better way! Use the same search tool you used to build up your connection list, except this time, search for "XYZ Company". LinkedIn will provide a list of members that have your target company in their profile. On top of the list of names you will see two drop-down lists in small font. One of the drop-down lists is the "sort" function. This list can be sorted by "Relevance", "Relationship", "Relationship plus Recommendations", and "Keyword". Since the purpose of your search is to discover who you know with ties to XYZ Company, sort the list by "Relationship".

The list will now start with your first level connections. Next, second level connections will be listed. These are people who are a first level connection to your first level connections. Think of them as "friends of friends" or "degrees of separation". The list will continue in order of level of connection down to the fifth level.

It takes less than a minute to conduct and sort the search. Get in the driver's seat and have an action plan by using the Linkedin employer search function.

Insiders who know you or someone you know will be developed. With a little charm and personality, you can reach out to these contacts and explore their experiences with the company you have chosen as your next employer. Give them a forum to share their thoughts and opinions. "Amy suggestions as to whom I should talk to about the XYZ Company?" is a question you should ask them. Be sure to ask people for their advice as they love to give it.

Using your LinkedIn network is a far more productive exercise than waiting for strangers to select your resume from hundreds of thousands of similar resumes floating around the internet. As you continue your job searching, be sure to use social networking by harnessing the power of LinkedIn. Remember, this is another valuable tool you can use effectively in your job search. Good searching.