Digital dirt. By now, you know that this term refers to negative information about you that’s found on the Internet, including social networking sites. You may even have some of your own digital dirt to contend with, such as

- Profiles on social networking sites that contain unprofessional content

- Unprofessional website and blog content, both content on your own sites as well as comments you leave on other sites

- Inappropriate photos or videos

- Contradictory information (what you tell an employer doesn’t match your LinkedIn profile, for example)

- Negative news stories about you or your company

- Critical comments others make about you online

- Comments or reviews you post online, such as on blogs or sites like Amazon.com

If you’re new to social networking, the thought of developing a solid pool of key contacts can be a bit overwhelming. Downright daunting, in fact, for those who place any form of networking—online or off—way down on their list of favorite things to do. Relax. In many ways, developing your online network is easier than an in-person network.

Your existing contacts are critical to social networking success. Without them, you have no network. If you’ve explored many social networking sites, you’ve undoubtedly come across people with only one or two contacts—or worse, no contacts. On every site, there are people who never do anything beyond signing up, or who accept an invitation from a colleague and never return to the site. If you want your social networking experience to be a powerful one, however, you need to connect with enough people to make it worthwhile. READ MORE

When Seth was downsized from his corporate marketing job, he knew that the tools and techniques he used to land a good position 12 years ago wouldn’t work in today’s world. The web was in its infancy back then, and concepts like social networking and online recruiting were far from the mainstream. Seth tapped his marketing acumen and previous experience with in-person networking to launch an online social networking job search.

He joined several business-oriented social networking sites, created profiles that emphasized his extensive experience, developed a large network of online contacts, and implemented a regular follow-up strategy. With time and perseverance, his networking strategy paid off. In three months, he started a new job at a much higher salary than his previous position offered.

The good news is that Seth’s story isn’t uncommon. Millions of professionals have posted profiles on social networking sites, and many of them have advanced their careers through their participation on these sites. Major companies such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo!, CBS Television, Amazon, Toyota, American Express, and many others use social networking sites to recruit employees. READ MORE

Online, image is everything.

Most of the people who encounter you on the web don’t know you and haven’t met you, so they don’t have the opportunity to form an opinion about you in the traditional sense. They don’t know what your qualifications are, whether people they respect recommend you, whether you have a good sense of humor, what’s most important to you in life, or anything else for that matter. Their entire opinion is based on the information they view online - on your website, your blog, or your social networking profile.

By now, you’re well aware of the importance your profile carries in the world of social networking. But your individual profiles on social networking sites are also part of a bigger picture - your online brand.

Your online brand is what drives your reputation and your success; it’s how the online world sees you. Do it right, and you could achieve stellar results. Do it wrong, and your results could be minimal, or worse, you could end up with a negative reputation. READ MORE

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) is one of the top social networking sites for business, with profiles of more than 19 million professionals. Twenty-five new members join every minute of every day. The site is also extremely active with recruiters—both from recruiting firms and major companies such as Microsoft, eBay, and L’Oréal—which makes it a prime hunting ground for job seekers. Everyone from top CEOs to presidential candidate Barack Obama has a LinkedIn profile.

Like it or not, change is the only constant in life. If you've just been retrenched, getting a new job will definitely be your top priority. But before you start hunting for a job, consider the following 10-step plan, which may just help you to make a successful change in your career.

Step 1
Assessment of likes and dislikes.
A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss, or their company. Identifying what you dislike about your current career is often the easier part of this step...

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