How to find a job using networking

This week we're making the transition from using personal branding to manage your online presence and make a good first impression to how to use personal branding and networking to find a job.

Networking is "a process where you develop long term relationships with others for mutual benefit."

A major component of the job hunt is networking, because your contacts are references and can assist you in the job search. Here's more reasons why from an article by HelpGuide.

"People do business primarily with people they know and like. Resumes and cover letters alone are often too impersonal to convince employers to hire you. Job listings tend to draw piles of applicants, which puts you in intense competition with many others. Networking makes you a recommended member of a much smaller pool. The job you want may not be advertised at all. Networking leads to information and job leads, often before a formal job description is created or a job announced."

LinkedIn is the best online tool for networking. It allows you to keep a running list of your contacts, stay up-to-date on what they're doing professionally, and see who and what organizations your contacts are connected to. It also allows you to showcase an extended, interactive resume complete with endorsements for your skills and recommendations from former coworkers.

Now if you're looking for other places to start looking for a job - Indeed, Monster and CareerBuilder are the three largest online job sites. If you're a Pacific Lutheran University student or alumni, the Career Connections Opportunities Board is a great place to find job postings. But don't forget talking to professors and your network, because they'll be the ones that can vouch for your skills through the relationships they've built with employers.