How to link job hunting & social networking

This week I read "The Blog is the New Resume" and "Social Networking has its perks". These articles were very enlightening because I never saw the blog as a resume. But after reading the article I understand why employers would consider the blog a resume. I always thought that blogging was a hobby or something to do with your free time. But then I learned that your blog is a representation of who you are, because it is an unedited version of yourself and it mirrors your thoughts and opinions.

However, I disagree with the second article with respect to if people "want to find a job they should get out from behind their computer". When it comes to job hunting, we need to be creative because competition is high and I think using the computer may actually be an asset in finding a job. For example, having an online presence that is presented in a professional manner, like having a LinkedIn account.

But what I found intriguing, was that the same article suggested using Facebook to market yourself in such a way that makes you appear valuable to potential employers. Though the article acknowledged that Facebook discourages this practice, it suggests that one way to avoid mixing your personal and professional presence would be to have two separate profiles. Now, my question to you is 'do you think this is effective?'

LinkedIn has been around since 2003, but I only heard of it like a year ago. I was visiting Seattle with the Road Scholars group and every headquarter we visited encouraged us to use LinkedIn. They were saying that LinkedIn was the new way to network while building contacts. So needless to say that I have a LinkedIn account.

In my opinion, having a LinkedIn account is like having an online resume. Your profile features your experience, education, personal and other additional information. And the best part, your contacts and recommendations. Your recommendations make your profile more valuable and through your contacts you can build and network with potential contacts. Also, I thought its was a great idea to have a LinkedIn account because when I google my name that's the first thing that shows up along with other associated works. So if potential employers google you, chances are if you have a LinkedIn account you won't be so embarrassed.

However, after reading "How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn" and "How to Change the World: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn" I learned some interesting things. For example, "People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five". Well, I have 22 connections with 2 recommendations for a year and was never approached with a job opportunity. Apart from updating my profile every once in a while, I've done nothing with my account. So my question to you is...if you have a LinkedIn account, how long have you had it and what have you done with it?