How? 

First, when you break it all down to it's most basic, it's about networking.  Facebook has more users than LinkedIn, and you don't want to let the potential of sheer numbers like that go untapped.  Second, even though Facebook has a more casual focus than LinkedIn, there are still business-related groups that can give you valuable information as well as another way through the door to a potential employer.

Now, get started by checking out Eric Osterman's tips on 3 Effective Ways to Find a Job With Facebook. He shows you how you can use company fan pages and Facebook SEM, and leverage your own current network in new ways to open up opportunities for you.

Then read CAREEREALISM's Facebook:  The Untapped Job Board to get more insight into how Facebook can be a great resource for your job search.

• How to find the best people to contact

• How to communicate so that you steer your networking efforts in the right direction

• How focused networking can penetrate the hidden job market and get you referred into your next job

Click here for more secrets to networking using LinkedIn.



So... Now that we've underscored the need for you to use LinkedIn, just how do you identify the manager you need to contact for the job you want?

First, start with exactly what are you looking for in your next position. Here's your step-by-step plan:

• Put together a great resume that lays out clearly for you and for hiring managers what you bring to the table--your marketing document.
• Identify any experiences you have that aren't on your resume that may become important during an interview or after you have been hired.
• Review who you have worked for over your career - both individuals and companies.
• Identify companies that you feel are a good fit.
• Note individuals that you think might play a role in landing your next position.
• Identify positions and titles of individuals that you see as your next manager, executive, or hiring manager.
• Join as many industry- and skill-related groups as possible to increase your communications access to related professionals.
• Expand your network as much as possible along career, company, and education lines.

Once you've completed these steps, you are prepared to start finding the managers that are your objective.

(Even though you won't have full network visibility without premium membership, you don't need premium membership to conduct a successful job search.)

The search for managers is reasonably straightforward. The search should be executed as follows:

• Search your own network for contacts, completing searches by each job title and by each company you are interested in finding.
• Perform searches within the groups you have joined by each job title and by each company.
• Finally, perform searches in the general people search area again by title and by company.

With your set identified (and this may include thousands of individuals), you can begin to reach out, establishing contact and seeking leads to hiring managers and open opportunities that may fit your experience.

Should your field be narrow and the results more limited than you like, you can expand the search by considering related companies and titles that may have something in common with your target roles. For example, lenders will know real estate principals, doctors will know nursing managers, and so on.

Even though the job search is a sales process, it's also a numbers game.  It can be easy to get discouraged, especially in a difficult economy, but a resource like LinkedIn can help you get in front of the large number of potential employers you need to find the one who'll be a successful match.  You just have to work the numbers.

(Don't forget to utilize the tools available from Career Confidential to help you put together a winning professional LinkedIn profile and conduct the most effective campaign possible when contacting hiring managers.  There are systematic, proven tactics you can use in tandem with LinkedIn that will get you responses from hiring managers you never dreamed of.  Check out these expert techniques for contacting hiring managers today.)

Tip #2:  Turn Social Media into Your Job Search’s Best Friend (not its worst enemy)

Online social networks are both underrated and often misused as a job search tool.  Facebook and Twitter can be amazing avenues to network or follow job leads, but it’s easy to forget that socializing with your friends can lead to comments or pictures that will kill your chances when the hiring manager sees it.  Sanitize your pages—you will be Googled.

But the Big Daddy of online networks, and the place you need to spend most of your time, is LinkedIn.  You must be on LinkedIn, with a high-quality profile that includes a business-appropriate photo.  (Career Confidential offers a LinkedIn Profile Tutorial for this.)  There are over 70 million professionals on LinkedIn—that’s a lot of job leads.  And, at least 80% of employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to look for potential hires.  You can’t afford to miss this.

You can join LinkedIn groups specific to your field and learn tremendous amounts of vital information, make connections to grow your network, and make a name for yourself by joining discussions and contributing useful comments.  Companies maintain pages that are invaluable when researching for your interview.  Perhaps most importantly, you can get ahead of the job-searching crowd and find “hidden jobs” by contacting hiring managers directly on LinkedIn.

Here's another tip for you to make the most of LinkedIn:

What exactly am I proposing and how do you go about this?

1. Google Search "LinkedIn LIONs". You'll find some well-put-together websites where simply joining will allow you download these folks' information for LinkedIn networks. Return to LinkedIn and upload the list and reach out to these new network contacts. They will universally add you to their networks. As soon as they do, you will see your first level grow by 100, 200, 300, or even more from the LION list, but the real effect will be on your 2nd and 3rd level network. You may jump from tens of thousands of connections to millions in a few days' time. Your ability to reach folks in your industry, in your skill set, from your alma mater, or from any other criteria you can imagine willl blossom.
2. As you move around LinkedIn, you will notice certain individuals who include their email address in their profile or even in their own name. These people are likely LIONs as well. Consider adding them to your network and magnifying all the benefits and network power described in item 1 on a smaller more incremental basis.

Once this is completed, I suggest taking a look at the LIONs you've connected with. Search on industry or profession. A few may turn out to be from your industry. These folks are a wealth of resources within that industry and deserve special attention. For example, my brother is in the rental property business and has a network that includes hundreds of real estate professionals. Also, you will notice a lot of these same folks are executive recruiters (not surprising, really). Find out their specialty and what they have available. You may have already stumbled on to the job lead or source that will be your next career step.

Want more advanced LinkedIn job search tips? Check out LinkedIn Ninja Tricks for bypassing HR and getting the job.

Top Ten Job Search Tips

Your job search is one of the most significant tasks you'll ever have. What job you end up with determines how you'll spend the majority of hours in your day, how much money you'll have, and how satisfied you are with your life. It's worth making the effort to end up where you'll be happy. Whether you're currently employed or not, here's how to put everything you've got into your job search--and it will bring you great results:

1. Create a great elevator pitch. You need to be able to summarize what you are bringing to the table. Make it short and sweet, but compelling enough to capture the attention of your listener/reader. Not only can you use it at networking events or casual meetings, you can use it in place of a traditional objective statement, and you can use it in your LinkedIn profile.

2. Write a killer resume. You must tailor your resume for what's relevant to the jobs you're applying for. You shouldn't have to rewrite the whole thing...just tweak it according to the job description. Organize it so that it's clear and easy-to-read--bullet points and white space are fantastic things. Keep it down to 1-2 pages, and fill it with keywords that will get it noticed by computerized tracking systems as well as sales numbers and other performance statistics that show you've been able to make (or save) money for the company.

3. Create a professional LinkedIn profile. You MUST utilize social media in your job search. There's just no other way around it. Facebook and Twitter are also useful, but LinkedIn is the most important place to be for business networking. A great profile includes your job history, a business professional picture, and a summary of who you are and what you do. See this LinkedIn profile tutorial for expert guidance.

4. Use your LinkedIn membership. Don't just create the profile. Participate. One of the things that makes LinkedIn so powerful is the connections you can make and the recommendations you can acquire. You make connections by joining groups (like Sales Cafe), participating in discussions, and getting introductions to people you need to know. Your recommendations say that other people think you're great, too, and give another perspective on your talents. But remember to give good recommendations to others as well. LinkedIn is also an amazing resource for information on companies, hiring managers, and industry trends--and you can contact hiring managers directly for jobs.

5. Develop your online brand. Your online reputation is the sum total of what an employer will find out about you when they Google your name. It's the comments you make on LinkedIn, Facebook, and blog articles. It's your Tweets. If you're really serious, seek out opportunities to guest post on blogs or write articles for online newsletters. Make sure that every time you say something online, that it's professional and relevant.

6. Network the old-fashioned way, too. Get out there and meet people. Attend networking events and tradeshows. Keep up with your contacts with the occasional email (it's more personalized than a Tweet) and give them something: a bit of information, a job lead, a great website, or an article you found. You can absolutely let them know what's going on with you, and ask them to keep an eye out for job leads you'd be interested in. Most people are happy to help.

7. Spend some time and effort prepping for your interview. I don't think it's possible to over-prepare for a job interview. Research the company. Know what their issues and challenges are in the marketplace. Make an effort to dress properly and project friendliness and enthusiasm with your body language. Have stories ready that demonstrate how you've handled difficult situations or met a challenge. Practice your answers to interview questions, and seriously consider role-playing interview questions with a coach. If pro athletes use coaches to gain a few extra seconds that make the difference between first and second place, you should, too.

8. Bring a 30/60/90-Day Plan. There's no better way to show how you'll be able to hit the ground running and contribute to the company than by creating a 30/60/90-day plan. A well-written plan is divided into 3 parts: the first 30 days, you'll focus on training and settling in (the more specific you can be, the better); the 60-day part expands your duties (say, by getting to know all your accounts and orienting yourself); and the last 30 days (the 90-day part) is your plan for bringing in new business (which you'll know because you've researched and analyzed the company's position in the marketplace). This plan is impressive because it shows the hiring manager your drive, commitment, enthusiasm, and knowledge of what it takes to be successful.

9. Ask questions during the interview. Here's another sure-fire method to impress your interviewer. Be interested in the job. Asking questions in the interview shows that you can think strategically and it also gets you quite a bit of information you can use while answering questions and in your follow-up. It turns the interview into a conversation and highlights your confidence and appeal.

10. Follow up. A great follow up plan can cover everything from providing great references to writing a substantial, timely thank you note. The best references are past managers or other high-level people, but they should all be willing to speak to the interviewer. Make sure you prep them for the call by giving them the information they need to speak intelligently about you. Thank you notes should be sent as quickly as possible (within 24 hours, so send it by email) and should refer back to what you discussed in the interview if you have something great to say, or it should add something new to the discussion. It's also a great opportunity to revise your 30/60/90-day plan based on what you talked about, and you can attach it to your thank you note.

Bonus:
Check out my free training webinar "How to Get a Better Job Faster" for more job search tips.

2: Click here to register for this no charge webinar.

Twitter can be great for tweeting about what you’re doing, but even better for following what others are doing—if you’re following the right people. Following the ones who can be the most useful and relevant to your career success right now is a tremendous opportunity you should not let slip by. Ultimately, Twitter is about communicating and connecting. The more you do, the more you'll learn things that will be useful to you in your career.

If you’re in marketing, you must use Twitter—it’s cutting edge. Both for your own tweets and for seeing what’s up with your competition.

If you’re in sales, it becomes a little less “must do,” but still pretty good. Are your customers out there? How about your competitors? Better keep up.

If you’re in the job search, you’re back to making Twitter participation a top priority on your to-do list. You can follow recruiters, hiring managers, career coaches, and others who can lead you to job prospects and give you the edge over other candidates. You can also follow companies to keep up with the latest. Twitter is a great job search tool.

So how do you find the people you need to follow? Twitter can be difficult to use for searches, but you can find ancillary software/models like Twellow and Twitter Search, and learn how to search. Here’s a place to start: a list of the top 25 Recruiters on Twitter.

As always, be a good participant and interact with professionalism. Tweet about things that are useful to others, help other people find jobs if you can, and take care to avoid negativity that can haunt you later.

Twitter relies on "tweets," which are posts of 140 characters or less. They're short, but frequent. Life moves fast on Twitter. But then, the world moves fast and this is a way to keep up. And yes, while some tweets are huge time-wasters (some of us don't want to know what someone else had for breakfast), there's quite a bit of useful information you can gain from following the right people. It's both a way to research and a way to network.

You can follow companies, customers, suppliers, vendors, industry experts, and recruiters who post jobs (there's even a Top 25 Recruiters on Twitter list--anyone who's going to be useful for you. You'll be able to keep up-to-the minute current. And then you can be useful yourself--pass along job leads, industry info, or the great book you just read. Any help or advice you can provide your contacts is a nice way to contribute.

You can ask questions, find people, and make contacts. Look for people to follow on www.twellow.com. You can search industry-specific keywords, or any other keywords that matter to you at search.twitter.com.

There are all kinds of ways to use Twitter for your job search. More and more companies are getting involved, and 75 million people means you ought to be able to find a job lead or two. You can put your elevator pitch in your bio, and provide links to your resume, LinkedIn page, or anything else that's cool about you. Check out my Top 10 Twitter Tips for more tips on how to use Twitter for your job search.

The point is: Twitter is a fantastic networking tool. And networking is critical to the success of your job search and your long-term career.

Set up your bio on Twitter today. Need more help? Check out Mashable.com's Twitter Guide Book.