LinkedIn to a Bright Future

We have all talked in class about the endless opportunities social media offers us in the business world today. Why not use a social media networking tool to find these stellar jobs?

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking Web site allowing members to connect to people in the business world, enhance their career options and receive answers to those tough career questions.

Dan Nye, CEO of LinkedIn, recently answered questions of LinkedIn veterans in an interview with the New York Times. He described his vision of LinkedIn as:

" ... a young company that is pursuing a big dream and big idea. Our goal is to build a productivity tool to help professionals to be even better at what they do. We do this by helping people a) present themselves in a professional way on the internet, b) find people with unique skills, knowledge and experience, c) reach people who can help them accomplish their goals, d) get advice from their networks and LinkedIn at large, e) find opportunities, f) acquire new clients/deals."

Through a network of business professionals, members of LinkedIn are able to gain introductions to employment opportunities and advances through mutual contacts, also known as second-degree contacts and third-degree contacts. LinkedIn also supports employment search engines such as Monster, CareerBuilder and Craigslist , providing job opportunities in more than 150 industries in 400 economic regions.

LinkedIn is not all about finding a job, the newest feature is a question-and-answer forum, in which the LinkedIn community answers members' questions about jobs and career moves. It really creates a community among business professionals linked together through one Web site. Check out Guy Kawaski's Ten Ways of Using LinkedIn to learn more about the ways LinkedIn can help you.

It is free and easy to sign up and become a member to LinkedIn, and I believe it is totally worth it. Why not use social media to find a job in social media, it just makes sense.