Chris Brogan published a free ebook for you to download and share with others in 2008, it is a good primer for those exploring and using social media in their job search. It takes you from the specifics of using LinkedIn to your benefit, into some ideas on how to grow and nurture your social networks ahead of a need for them.

LinkedIn:

• The headline is the most important part of your profile.
• Update your profile summary every 2 weeks, keep it fresh and write it from the perspective of the potential employer
• Help people with their search by giving out recommendations to people you can vouch for
• Only recommend people you can personally vouch for

Twitter:

• Thousands of great minds all plugged into the same conversation and some of them could help you achieve your goal
• Don’t be a follower be a leader. Find appropriate groups, reach out, and contribute.
• Follow Chris Brogan’s 9 step process for networking on Twitter:

1. Be clear out your goals, write them down. Think about how you can help other people achieve their goals.
2. You need to have credibility. A blog is a good way to get it. I also think you can use your LinkedIn profile instead.
3. A photo of you on your blog or LinkedIn profile is essential for building trust.
4. Start a database of your contacts. Record their name, twitter handle, phone number and capabilities.
5. Use Twitter to ask questions. This helps you gauge what are important issues or not. (Also, asking good questions makes you look smart.)
6. Use search.twitter.com or Twellow to find likeminded, interesting people to connect with.
7. Send @ messages to them and see if they would like to connect or collaborate.
8. Invite them to your database of contacts. Let them in on your network, (yes, that’s the scary part. You’ll have to trust Chris on this one and try it for a round or two).
9. Collaborate, build the relationship and build something together. Bring even more people into the fold, and so forth.

You can download Using the Social Web to Find Work here.

About Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan is President of New Marketing Labs, a new media marketing agency, and home of the Inbound Marketing Summit conferences and Inbound Marketing Bootcamp educational events. He works with large and mid-sized companies to improve online

• Previous Entry: Finances: Declaring Bankruptcy
• Next Entry: Interviews: Seven Ways to Flunk