Guide for newly jobless on social networks

What can your contacts do for you?
Although it may sound complicated, the basic concept of social networking is that you are tapping your contacts and their connections, too. Thus it makes perfect sense to ask your contact to introduce you to someone in his or her network. While it is acceptable to ask your social networking contacts for assistance; don't ask them directly for a job. Better yet, offer them assistance first – a tactic social networking gurus call “paying it forward.”

How do you approach people in a social networking group?
The truth is there's a fine line between demonstrating vs. proclaiming your expertise. "You are not there to pitch your stuff, or announce your availability for employment, or tell how great you are," says Jason Alba, CEO of JibberJobber.com & co-author of “I’m on LinkedIn – Now What???”. "The guy who is pitching is quickly disregarded. The guy who is there to help, and be a part of the conversation, is building trust."

What's the right size network of connections for you?
Experts suggest concentrating more on quality rather than quantity. The reason for this is that good contacts are more likely to open doors for you by introducing you to hiring managers or people inside companies you would like to work for one day.  One advantage of LinkedIn vs. Facebook is that it shows you how many "degrees" of separation you are from a target contact. In some cases you may need to ask a friend to introduce you to one of his or her acquaintances who knows the hiring manager you have targeted at a corporation.

Should your profile disclose your unemployed status?
Yes. "In this economic climate, it’s much more acceptable to be unemployed than in the past and hiring managers are very understanding of the job market and the number of layoffs," advises Alison Doyle, author of “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online”. She says it "can come back to haunt you" if you misrepresent your employment status. She recommends stating that "you're open to opportunities" on your social networking profile.

Does it make more sense to start out on Facebook or LinkedIn or do both?
Doyle recommends starting out on LinkedIn, which she says is more focused on professional rather than social networking. "You can build a profile quickly and easily, and find contacts from your employers, clients, vendors, and schools," says Doyle. "Users can also search for jobs right on LinkedIn, plus see who they know at companies they apply to or are interested in working for."

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