[Ed. note: This is a guest blog post from Ron LaPedis, Principal at Seacliff Partners and describes his journey from being laid off to becoming an entrepreneur with some help from his LinkedIn network]

I am an entrepreneur who was always afraid to quit my day job. I sold rock concert T-shirts in college and even after I began work in the Silicon Valley, I started selling high-end fountain pens from Realpens.com and writing articles for industry magazines. These were little more than hobbies until my first pink slip showed up, after I’d spent nearly 29 years in the industry. After exiting the building and taking stock, it was obvious that networking was the answer. The scuttlebutt was that few people were being hired off the street and recommendations to managers were worth their weight in gold. Using LinkedIn’s advanced search feature, I reached out to old friends and co-workers for references but instead discovered that many of them were independent consultants and actually making a living at it.

While still searching for a full-time job, I began the work to become a trusted adviser on my favorite topic – protecting businesses and people when something goes wrong. I used LinkedIn Answers to get tips and tricks from my contacts on how to set up a consulting business including the need for liability insurance and why I should incorporate as an LLC. To prove my credibility, I used the WordPress application on LinkedIn to publish my regular blog post entries on to my network. An Australian friend of mine saw my posts on LinkedIn and recommended me to a company in Los Angeles. My first contract came quickly, in fact before the ink was dry on my incorporation papers. After that I was requested to author an online article and was paid to write and give two educational sessions at a technology conference – and this all started with a LinkedIn contact.

I am absolutely convinced of the power offered by LinkedIn and I tell all of my friends to build their networks, use the search feature to find people at targeted companies, and get recommendations from co-workers.

[Ed. note: This is a guest post by Dawn Jordan, former operations vice president at Bank of America, whose job was eliminated last year. Also, check out Dawn's blog series on the Wall Street Journal where she describes her quest for a job in the midst of these trying economic times]

On any given day, it seems I could attend an event and meet the individual who will be key to landing my next job.  This is because my email inbox is constantly loaded with invitations and announcements for upcoming professional networking events.

My challenge isn’t a lack of time, interest or need to attend these networking functions, it is lack of money.

Pre-layoff I thought little of registration fees for such activities but post-layoff is another matter.  Their expense has been an unanticipated cost of unemployment.  As a result, I too often find myself foregoing events that  I would prefer to attend.  The longer I am unemployed, the more often I expect this to happen.

Inevitably, I find myself torn between feeling as though I can’t afford to go to an event but that I also can’t afford not to go.

What makes matters worse is that career service industry experts agree networking is one of the most critical components of a job search.  They say that especially in weaker  economies you are more likely to find your career opportunity through networking and not on job boards.

This is where online social media tools such as  LinkedIn, and Meetup.com help.  They allow me to extend my reach and meet people for low or no cost.  When you consider typical networking expenses can easily exceed $400 per month, leveraging these resources is a no-brainer.

One of the ways I use LinkedIn to extend my networking budget through the “Groups and Associations”.  I look for local chapters of organizations as well as groups in the functions and industries where I desire to work.

I join groups and then contact members on an individual basis.  If they are located near me I’ll request to physically meet, otherwise my goal is a phone call.  The shared group connection makes it easy to connect and increases the likelihood they will make time to talk.  Long-term, I retain connections to organizations and peers that can continue to contribute to my professional growth.

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Donald Wilkes and Viola Hamilton-Wilkes are job search experts with years of experience interviewing and hiring. They are authors of a Teen Guide Job Search book, which is also available in an audio version. You can check out their earlier post on helping your teen find a job without being a nag here]

No matter what your age, searching for a job is a challenge.  But like anything, when you know what to do and how to do it, suddenly it’s easier!

Begin your job search by looking for work you’ll enjoy.  For example, ask yourself questions, like:

1. Do you prefer working with people (children, adults or seniors), computers, animals, or equipment?
2. Do you prefer working inside an office or working outside (construction or delivery work)

Once you have an idea about the type of work wanted, apply for jobs in that line of work.  Did you know employees who enjoy their work tend to do a better job and look forward to going to work?  It’s true…so find work you enjoy.

Let’s get ready for the interview!  View this 7 minute You Tube video which shows two teens being interviewed.  How do you think the first teen did? If you said poorly, you’re correct.

Try practicing your interview skills.  How?  Ask an adult who works in Human Resources or at an employment agency to conduct a practice interview.   Then they can tell you how to improve.

Want a job? Quick tips for success.

·      Dress like a winner
·      Don’t chew gum
·      Firm handshake
·      Express yourself clearly
·      Show interest, enthusiasm and confidence
·      Turn off your cell phone

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Bruce Biskin, PhD is a career planning and assessment expert, and senior associate with Delaware Valley Career Solutions. He also co-administers a job/career resource wiki in Bucks County, PA]

Soon, tens of thousands of college seniors will flip their tassels and complete–at least for now–their formal higher education. And the current recession means more of them ever before will still be looking for that first job after graduation, and it may not be the one that they and their parents expected would launch their careers. But the market is not as bleak as the unemployment reports would suggest. There are many things that parents can do to help new grads and I will suggest a few that pertain primarily to parents.

But first I have a suggestion to those readers who know parents who struggle with (or ignore) the fact that their grad has really grown up. (I know you are not one of them.) Gently remind them that, “college graduates are responsible adults–even when they are your kids”. Because if they forget, they may find that their good intentions may do more long-term harm than good. If you believe they might struggle to suspend parental authority, you might even suggest that they adopt a mantra like, “My child is a college graduate. My child is a responsible adult.” It works!

So, what can parents do to help? Here are five of my top choices.

1. Set and agree to ground rules like, “you can move in for three months rent free, then you pay $XXX rent/month.” Every situation is different and the rules may need to be negotiated as time goes by.

2. Challenge your grads to come up with plans and solutions. Provide information and suggestions that you think would be helpful in a job search. Then let them finalize the plan. Always collaborate. Share your opinions, but don’t be condescending. If you disagree with their decisions, let them know what you think, but as long as the ground rules are not violated, support the plan.

3. Become a link in their job search network. If you are reading this, you probably have a network on LinkedIn. Offer your child the opportunity to become another connection into your network. At least suggest they join LinkedIn.

4. Tell you children you love them–regularly. If you or they are uncomfortable sharing feelings through words, at least show it in your eyes and your smile.

5. Suggest expert help. If the job search is going smoothly, great! If not, consider suggesting seeking out the help of a professional career counselor or coach.

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Joyce Solano is an MBA candidate at the University of San Francisco where she will graduate in May 2009. She is currently at Sun Microsytems managing social media communities and identifying strategic partnership opportunities. You can read her blog here and listen to her podcast at NewGenTech]

Last Spring, as the competition for MBA internships started to heat up, I knew I needed a leg up to land that coveted opening at Sun Microsystems. My strategy was simple, understand the personal brand of each of the team members. I would feel more confident if I knew as much about them as they did about me. LinkedIn was an invaluable source of information that helped me understand the history, interests and accomplishments of my potential colleagues. As job seeking students we have to remember that we are assessing potential companies as well, truly making it a two way evaluation.

Realizing how much I had in common with the team and how interesting they were, really cemented that Sun was a match for me as well. I knew that my skill set was up to par, but also recognized that culturally, I would make a great addition. I walked into my series of interviews, armed with resources, rich with relevant data points and teeming with confidence.

A year, later I’m still with Sun and can look back and know that my insight from LinkedIn was right on point.

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Lindsey Pollak is the author of Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World. She also writes the Lindsey Pollak Career Blog and speaks frequently at colleges and universities across the country.]

Job hunting is a journey, so I’d like to begin this post by paraphrasing from my favorite movie about a journey: The Wizard of Oz: We’re not in the 20th Century anymore, Toto.

This is the sentence I find myself thinking whenever a college student says something like, “I’ve sent out, like, a hundred resumes and I still haven’t found a job!”. Emailing out resumes and waiting for a response used to be a perfectly decent strategy for finding a job. Not anymore. Today’s job seekers, especially ‘09 grads job hunting in a recession, need to be more creative, more proactive and more tech savvy than ever before. We are blessed to live in a time when there are so many new job hunting tools and techniques. Take advantage!

Here are some tips:

· DO mix the personal and professional. The line between personal and professional is pretty fluid these days, and that’s a good thing for job seekers. Your network can and should include friends and family. (That’s right; there is no shame in “linking in” with your parents!) It’s important to email and talk to everyone you know—friends, family, professors, neighbors—to ask if they know anyone who might be hiring. Now is the perfect time to reach out and say, “I’m excited to share the news that I’ve graduated. I’m in the process of job hunting and would be grateful for any advice you have or introductions you’d be willing to make…”

· DON’T wait. In today’s super-fast world, a job can be snapped up based on something as brief and fleeting as a 140-character “tweet” on Twitter or a status update on LinkedIn, so you must move fast. If you see a job announcement, discussion topic, scholarship announcement or any opportunity that appeals to you, go for it immediately. When I post opportunities or questions, I am always most impressed and intrigued by the person who responds first.

· DO use LinkedIn as a research tool. There are many great tips on this blog for networking on LinkedIn, and I’d add another important use: research. LinkedIn offers a huge database of other people’s career paths, from which you can gather ideas for your own. Search other people’s profiles to find new companies you may want to apply to, job titles or professions you didn’t know about, organizations where you can network and people with similar interests who might be willing to offer some advice. Simply type your interests or dream employers into the LinkedIn Advanced Search engine, read the profiles that pop up and open your mind to new possibilities.

· DON’T spend too much time online. There is a perception that younger people are only comfortable communicating online, so it’s especially important for recent college grads to demonstrate that they are also comfortable face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball (where much of the action takes place in the professional world you’re trying to join). This means that in addition to networking and job hunting online, it’s crucial that you set up live phone calls or coffee dates, attend “meet-ups,” job fairs and conferences and send snail mail notes to people who help you. Remember that online methods should supplement, not replace, in-person techniques.

· DO personalize everything. Do you open mail addressed to “Occupant?” No way. This is the same way recruiters feel about emails written “To whom it may concern” and generic LinkedIn connection requests. Show you’re not lazy by customizing every communication with the recruiter’s name (spelled correctly – triple check!) and a reminder of where you met, a topic you chatted about or, if you’ve never met, a brief introduction of who you are. You’ll impress people with your etiquette and you’ll demonstrate that you are a young professional who goes the extra mile.

Good luck on your journey, ’09 grads. Stay positive, work hard and I’ll look forward to seeing you along the Yellow Brick Road!

P.S. I welcome all LinkedIn connections from ’09 Grads…as long as they’re personalized, of course! Connect here.

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts from LinkedIn users featuring tips for recent grads. Adam Conrad is a masters student in Computer Science at Brown University. He will be graduating in May and beginning work for Microsoft in July. His focus is on web development and databases, which you can read more of at his blog here]

I was invited a few years ago to try LinkedIn, when there were literally a few thousand accounts total. I didn’t give it much thought because I already had a Facebook account, and it seemed the same.

Then, last summer, LinkedIn got a huge face lift and I noticed that so many people were using this site, and it started to get me thinking that I should get on the LinkedIn wave. I completed my account and started noticing more requests to friend users, including hiring managers. One day, out of the blue, while working at my internship a representative from Microsoft sent me an InMail and asked if I was interested in working for a new division of the company this year. I told them I was still in school, and I was out of the market until 2009 (which was my standard reply to many of the companies who saw me as graduated from undergraduate study).

Despite this, they still said “let’s have you meet up with someone at the new division” so a few weeks later, I was having breakfast with the VP of Engineering at Microsoft’s new Boston office. He liked what he saw and rushed to get me an interview before the wave of college interviews across the country. At the end of the summer, I already had passed a phone screening and was scheduled for an interview the first of September, weeks before regular hiring began.

About a week later, I was offered an amazing job at Microsoft in Boston, and it wouldn’t have happened without LinkedIn. I am now gainfully employed in this new economy, which is amazing.