Looking for a job has never been easy and can be down-right depressing. Before the Internet and social networking, job hunting meant scanning the want ads and sending out resumes. Networking existed, but it meeting with an old buddy for coffee. That’s what it was like for many people laid off during the 2001 recession.
But unemployment in the age of Internet and social networking isn’t nearly as depressing or lonely. As the old adage goes, “Misery loves company.” Now, networking options abound for the out-of-work, both nationally and locally.
LinkedIn is great when you’re employed but it can be just as good when you are unemployed. Professionally speaking, it is a great resource for expanding your network beyond the two or three other people you know who do what you do. In addition to joining groups in your area of interest with like-minded people, these same people will let you know when there is a job out there for the taking.
LinkedIn offers another benefit when conducting a job search while logged into the site. When you search jobs, LinkedIn lets you know who in your network works at a specific company with a posting. If you expand your job search to SimplyHired while still logged in, the same service is provided for those jobs.
Twitter offers a more passive approach. With TweetMyJobs, you can receive automatic updates about available jobs in a certain field and even in a certain region. And you can receive it via Twitter or on your cell phone while having a latte and “networking” with your old buddy.
Being a fan of a company’s Facebook page or following it on Twitter also offers the added advantage of knowing when a new job opens up.
Local social networking has popped up around the country specifically for the unemployed. These groups such as the 405 Club in New York City not only provide job resources but also people to share your woes with.










