Volunteering is important partly because not enough people are doing it. Note your consistent volunteer efforts with the same organization throughout your high school career, and it’s a guaranteed way to show that you’re passionate and concerned about your community. It also illustrates that you’re responsible and able to stick with one goal for the long term. Even one semester volunteering will give you an additional line on your résumé that you can be proud of. If you’re going the online education route, you’ll find volunteering a great way to get plugged into a community.

There is one catch, though. You have to be passionate about your volunteer work. If you can’t imagine yourself caring about another human being, skip it altogether and just try for another internship at the IRS. If you don’t have enthusiasm for what you’re doing, you’re not going to be able to convince a hiring manager that you didn’t just sit in the corner and wrack up community service hours. Follow a couple guidelines when choosing volunteer work and you’re can be proud of your service and happy to share it with human resources employees.

The main trick, of course, is to pick something you’re passionate about. If you grew up dreaming of throwing paint on fur-clad pedestrians, look into working at an animal shelter. There are as many non-profits as there are goals and ambitions. Fashionistas can look into programs like Dress for Success, which help prepare women for job interviews by creating resumes for them and helping them with interview techniques and even providing an interview-appropriate outfit.

If you can’t think of anything off the top of your head that you’d be interested in, contact your local United Way agency. Tell them your skill set, and they can put you in touch with nearby non-profits that could really use your skills. Be prepared to show them a resume, submit to a background check or even have a small interview. Non-profits need help, but like any other business they need to be able to trust their employees. Don’t go in expecting to save the world, but have the attitude that you’ll be contributing to the good that they’re doing. If you come in as a team player, you’ll become a valued member of the staff.

If you feel like you can’t volunteer because you need to have an income, look into an AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps gives participants a living stipend monthly. You’ll need to remain drug-free and not be arrested for anything through the duration of your program, but that isn’t a problem for most grads. At the completion of your hours and term of service, you’ll be granted an education award that varies based on the amount of time you put into the program. Each program handles a different theme or works with a single organization, so you’ll want to pick one that’s both local and interesting to you.

Another dirty secret to volunteering is that non-profits hire. It’s that simple. Work at a non-profit, show you have skills they need, and apply for open positions. Even volunteering at a one-employee organization will give you valuable community ties and networking opportunities.

The theme song for the Showtime hit Weeds, “Little Boxes,” describes, in mocking derision, the generation that came of age immediately following the end of WWII. Not quite the leading characters of Mad Men, but the younger siblings. This generation “went to the university,” took work in a major corporation and spent the balance of their working lives in one career. Today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job tenure is 4.4 years. Not only do those in today’s workforce change jobs, they change careers only slightly less than they do positions. Future can expect to have several careers in their lifetimes.

Education has also transformed with society’s workforce. Over the years, jobs requiring only minimal schooling have virtually disappeared, while bachelor’s degrees, once a reliable key for lifetime entrance to employment, are constantly in need of supplemental updating, driving growth in online education programs for students working full time jobs. These developments, while not making resumes obsolete by any means, have changed the nature of telling potential employers about who you are and what you can do.

LinkedIn has been described as a “living resume.” That’s a pretty fair portrayal by which to approach your account. Your resume is a good starting point to build content for your LinkedIn presence, but just as today’s human resource managers expect every resume to be uniquely tailored to the specific job in question; your internet presence should be customized as your career direction is focused by constant interaction facilitated largely by social media. The dynamics of LinkedIn activities should guide improvements to your resume, not the other way around.

Another essential distinction between your resume and your LinkedIn profile is the goal of each. Resumes have traditionally and continue to be the tool used to get an interview. LinkedIn is the tool you use to find the right job for you and the decision maker, who will not only select an employee but may also build the job description after becoming aware of a potential candidate’s skill set. See the difference? The resume goes to the HR department and is used as an interview tool, but your LinkedIn account is your guide to the boss’ door. Networking makes that mysterious path to the new job visible.

As the very scope of this article, is understanding the subtle and not-so-subtle difference between your resume and your on-line profile. You need only know that the wise use of your network is the powerful, indispensable pursuit you must follow by using LinkedIn and that your resume, tailored after you identify an opportunity, comes last. Your connections should be chosen with much greater care than those of any other social networking site associations. Unless your high school classmate is hiring in the field in which you wish to work or they are tennis partners with a potential boss, they don’t belong among your networking connections. Your initial goal should be to acquire at least 200 serious contacts which should be harvested from a very active campaign of meetings and activities that put you in close proximity with people affiliated with your employment goals. Your resume comes into play after you meet someone, again, as a tool designed, (and personalized) to secure a bona fide interview, directly or indirectly.

Those in your growing LinkedIn network should be intelligently sought out as informational resources. Picking up the tab for a couple of lunches, a cup of coffee, or if appropriate, a cocktail after business hours is an astute investment. Everyone likes to be asked for their advice, and while it’s your job to evaluate the information, there is real value to be had by objective eyes imagining you in a job or, just as valuable, letting you know their doubts about a career direction you might, at the time, not see.

With every intelligence boon you garner from your networking, you narrow your search efforts, making those efforts more efficient and more beneficial. Your resume, always changing to reflect new lessons learned, new advantages revealed, remains a vital companion to your LinkedIn account, just not a sibling.

Networking

You have heard how important networking is today, but you may need to take it a step further. Get involved in organizations that support your career interests and add to your skills. There are several groups especially for young professionals. Invite people you meet to coffee or lunch and be sure to use social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In to keep in contact. In fact, many young professionals have also used social media to directly target their “dream” companies by creating blogs showcasing their skills and enthusiasm for that specific company.

Social media and technology leads to the next important point, which is the necessity of staying up-to-date on all these networking technologies. Put in the effort here to stay ahead of the game.

Increase your networking power by using your free time wisely. Make a plan to go to at least two networking events each month and follow up with people you connect with. This can be professional networking events, but it could also be lectures, luncheons, art shows, and more. If you live in a large metro area, use your creativity. Events that provide opportunities to network may be endless.

Part-Time Work

Additionally don’t shy away from part-time work. If you are unemployed, part-time work may be the key to getting your foot in the door or the next step toward your dream career. Managing one small area of the business may lead to greater responsibilities later. Once you have your foot in the door, network with others and volunteer for projects if the opportunity arises.

Carpe Diem

Take every opportunity you can to add to your skill set and starpower. Early in your career, it may be necessary to volunteer your skills free of charge whenever the opportunity arises. Also, many internships are unpaid but provide critical experience that many companies now expect of their new hires. For example, in a study by Drs. Gardner, Chao, and Hurst at Michigan State University, MSU’s annual survey hiring discovered important new-hire trends. The study revealed that 50 percent of companies’ new hires completed internship or co-ops within the company. More surprising, is that 90 percent of new hires completed some type work-related experiences before entering the workplace.

Jamie Scott, social media advocate with CreditDonkey says “the most important thing to remember is to stay positive and don’t get discouraged.” Like most rewards in life, this one definitely takes work. Staying persistent, creative, and positive helps you stay in the game and hopefully will ultimately lead to your professional success.

If you have a Twitter account or are looking to obtain one, you are doing yourself a disservice by not taking advantage of the opportunities it can bring to you as a job seeker.  To make the most of your profile, take a look at some strategies for branding your Twitter profile that could complement your job search.

Grab a Prime Twitter Handle

When you acquired your Twitter account, you may have not been thinking that you would eventually need to brand yourself as a professional through the profile and therefore may not have placed a professional spin on your account handle.  If this is the case, now’s the time to go out and grab a Twitter handle that complements your job search.

For instance, if your name is Jane Jackerman, you’re a CPA and your name is not already taken as a handle, grab @JaneJackerman, @JaneLJackerman, or even @JaneJackermanCPA in a hurry to start building your brand.  As employers begin conducting online searches on you, they will be able to easily find your Twitter account and see that you are busy tweeting about topics in your field.

Get Your Profile in Order

After you’ve snagged the perfect professional handle, you want to brand yourself further by filling out your profile.  This means listing a link to your LinkedIn page or professional blog as your Web site, writing a personal branding statement in the bio section, and listing the name on your resume as your name.

As for photos, you don’t have to have one up of yourself since your appearance cannot be used as an employment decision maker; however, it’s a good idea to add a professional photo anyway.  If you are dead set against this idea, consider an image that represents your brand (e.g., logo, photo of a pen and paper if you’re writer, etc.), then create a background design that is simple and professional.

Start Tweeting about Your Field

There’s no easier way to show you have knowledge of your field than to tweet about it.  If you have a passion for what you do, and you follow the events of your industry, and you attempt to make contributions, it’s best to share this information with your peers by tweeting.

Just don’t forget to build a following.  Recruit your friends and family.  Garner support from your other social networking profiles.  If you have a blog, send them to your Twitter account and ask them to follow you.  If a hiring manager sees that people respect your opinion enough to follow you, he or she might want bring you into the company’s fold.

A brand is built by defining who you are in relation to your field.  Your Twitter account can undoubtedly help you strengthen your brand while giving your job search an amazing boost.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea. I’ve always found that using the old “legacy” web application products to be difficult and cumbersome. If done right, it will be a great step forward.

As read in GigaOm:

“Apply With LinkedIn” is being touted by the company as a way to remove friction from the job application process by enabling people to use their LinkedIn profiles as resumes. The plug-in also bundles applicants’ data to simplify the sorting process on the employer side.

The way of the future? Maybe. But either way, it’s a great idea now.

After graduating college I find that many people decide to move away from their college town.  Most college towns are built in smaller towns an hour or so out of bigger cities.  And because no one wants to live in a college town after graduation, the most logical step is to move to the closest big city to find employment.

But moving to a new city, where you potentially know no one and have to adjust to a new life, can be a daunting prospect, or it can provide the setting for an exciting adventure. It’s all how you look at it.

One of the most important elements of settling in a new city is developing new contacts.

Once upon a time, finding contacts in a new city offered a bigger challenge. The internet didn’t exist, and social media wasn’t around to give us instant access to networking opportunities. Networking required a lot more time and a lot more legwork.

Today, you can start finding contacts before you even pack the moving van.

Who do you know?

You probably already have a huge list of contacts– family, friends, coworkers, former employers, former classmates, and acquaintances. Someone is likely to either know people in your new city or will know someone who knows someone. (Think six degrees of separation.) Spread the word that you’ll be moving and you’re looking to connect with people, especially in your industry, in your new town. Ask your current contacts if they can introduce you to their contacts through an email or a phone call. You’ll be surprised at how many people you meet this way.

Social Media – New Contacts at Your Fingertips

Social media has transformed networking, making it easier and faster. Take advantage of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, and other social media sites. Facebook and LinkedIn, for example, list groups you can join that will allow you to network with people outside of your current network. Join groups, post statuses about your upcoming move, and ask your current connections if they know anyone in the city to which you are moving.

If you publish a blog, share your upcoming move with your readers. Some may live in your destination city while others may be willing to introduce you to contacts they have in that city.

Get out there and get involved

The best way to meet people, and to start feeling comfortable in your new home, is to get involved. Join professional organizations or volunteer in your industry or in your area of interest, and start attending events. If you’re an entrepreneur, for example, join the local Chamber of Commerce and go to events.

Regardless of your profession, join the local Toastmasters, a group dedicated to helping professionals improve their public speaking skills. Toastmasters is a great way, especially if you’re reserved, to both build your public speaking skills and to help you feel more confident in your networking.

The key to successful networking, when attending events or participating in activities, is to mingle. You might find someone with whom you connect right away, but be sure that you also talk to other people. After all, you want to connect with as many people as you can.

Follow up

If a contact gives you a business card, write where and when you met the person and a little bit about the meeting on the back of the card. That way, you’ll have an easier time remembering details, especially if you met a lot of people, when you follow up.

When you make a new contact, regardless of whether it’s online or offline, follow up the next day with a quick email or phone call. Mention where you met, and consider suggesting another meeting or scheduling a time to chat. Now that you’ve starting meeting contacts, you want to develop relationships with them, allowing you to maximize your networking opportunities.

Frankie Eybsen is a career and employment blogger.  He also works with ResumeBucket and their huge sample resume collection.

Students traditionally use on-campus job interviews as a way to get their first post-college job, but according to one article, less than 1/3 of college students find jobs from companies that hire through career services.

So what’s a bright, enthusiastic, newly educated wannabe wage-earner to do?

Use social media.  Recruiters are using connections through Twitter and Facebook to find candidates.  More specifically, get a LinkedIn profile.  By creating a good profile and joining the right groups and discussions, you set yourself up to be found by recruiters in your desired industry.  And recruiters do use LinkedIn to find candidates.  You’d be crazy not to be where they can find you.

Read up on how to set up a great LinkedIn profile (or get professional help).  Using the right keywords for your industry, along with a professional profile and photo, will get you noticed.  And do it now, so you can be networking and getting your name out there early–before the last day of school.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Whether you like it or not, potential employers are searching for you on the Internet. Do yourself a favor and make sure that the information you want them to see is available for them to find. This doesn’t mean you have to sign up for every service out there and regularly blog about your daily eating habits. Just make sure you have established a positive and professional online presence. This includes all data and media you have posted online, including status updates, links, pictures and videos.

Start by evaluating what you currently use and think about what you’ll be able to manage as you finish school/search for employment. Once you’ve completed your audit of your social network behavior, make any changes you see fit (i.e. content clean up, additions/deletions, updates to privacy settings, etc.). Keep in mind that you still want your profiles to be a reflection of who you are as a person, but a recruiter doesn’t need to see you passed out on the bathroom floor. This would also be a great time to start figuring out how you are going to use online networks as you transition into having both a professional and a personal life.

Here is a quick analysis of three popular social networks:

LinkedIn

A friend of mine recently spoke to a college class, where she was surprised to learn how few of the students had never heard of, let alone used, LinkedIn. For those of you like the students in that class – LinkedIn is a professional networking site where you can show your experience and interests, connect with your colleagues and industry peers, as well as research companies and possible job opportunities. From what I’ve seen, LinkedIn is the easiest way to have a searchable resume posted on the Internet. It’s also an excellent way to stay connected with all those people you’ve met along the way through internships and interviews.

Facebook

Sure Facebook makes you findable, but it really isn’t the place to elaborate on your work experience and your volunteer projects. I recommend cleaning it up and/or locking it down. There’s never a better time than the present to revaluate some of those pictures that have been posted (and tagged) online. Keep it clean and professional. Sure it may feel great to rant and rave about specific people, companies or groups; but make sure the information that you post online is information that you want to be found.

Twitter

Keeping it clean should be easy with only 140 characters. Don’t rant ugly four-letter expletives all over your account. This is a place to find and connect with people. You can be conversational and have thought provoking commentary, share articles pertaining to your industry or interests and join chats, or group discussions on an overarching topic, where you can get advice and mentorship. While PR practitioners and marketers heavily adopted Twitter and have been some of the most vocal users ever since, Twitter is really for everyone. Like most things, it is what you make it.

Start a reading list

LinkedIn is not a great place to advertise the trashy romance novel you read by the pool, but it does allow you to show professional colleagues where some of your intellectual interests lie.  Personal hobbies like rebuilding motorcycles or visiting Civil War reenactments make for awkward resume material, but mentioning that you’ve read books on the subject will cause you to appear interesting to an employer.

Join groups

Groups are a great way to network in a somewhat casual way.  Your university alumni groups are an easy place to start.  It might feel awkward to e-mail a stranger who happened to go to the same school you did, however, there’s nothing unusual about saying, “I saw through the ABC University group on LinkedIn that you work in insurance.  Do you have any tips that would help me break into the industry?”  Displaying your membership in various groups is also a subtle way to let employers know how you’re connected and where your interests lie.

Post status updates

Much like Facebook, LinkedIn allows you to post status updates.  These updates can let other people know about a big project you’re currently working on or a conference you’re attending, or they can include a link to an article you found particularly interesting or salient to your field.  Just be careful to not bore your connections with irrelevant personal information or touchy political editorials.

Keep your profile current

If you don’t do anything else to your LinkedIn profile, be sure you keep it updated with your current job title and duties at all times.  It’s confusing for an employer to look you up and see information that’s different from what you’ve presented on your resume.  As an HR manager once told me, “It’s important to care for your LinkedIn profile the same way you would a plant in your office—make sure you check on it at least once a week!”

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Seriously. It worked for this guy…

Now here’s the million-dollar question. Would you rather land a full time job because of your hard work and dedication? Or because of your 15 minutes of fame after getting posted on Mashable?

Discuss.