[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. Steffany Bane works as a Copywriter at a Digital Advertising Agency. She is also Co-Author of the off-to-college book I’ll Miss you too]

Parents have been playing the catch-up game when it comes to technology. But these days, more parents are connected then ever before. The benefit of this is how busy a college Freshman’s academic schedule (ahem) social calendar is, and in a world of multi-tasking, they can always find time for an electronic message but may not be able to squeeze in a phone call. The benefit to this is #1 Students can edit their entry (ie. delete the curse words) #2 They don’t have to hear Mom’s lecturing voice. #3 If inspiration strikes at 2:00am, they won’t be waking anyone up.

This leads to the interesting factor of just how comfortable a teen can become in sharing details to the point where you’re left feeling sorry you ever asked about how the cafeteria food was or their roommate was doing.

A normal phone call might consist of answers like: “Good. Fine. OK. Bye.” An email, text or a tweet may give explicit details about how the cafeteria oatmeal tastes like the smell of Uncle Joe’s breath after a cigar or how their roommate’s battle with excess gas during the night is subconsciously affecting their dreams.

But do not fear. This is a good thing. If anything, it makes you realize you are not in control anymore. And this is the part where you let go. Trust that you’ve raised and instilled core values students will carry with them throughout college. After all, it’s part of growing up process, which both parents and students continue to experience the rest of their lives.

[Ed. note: Kristen Fischer is the author of Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: An After-College Guide to Life. She works as a copywriter from her home office in New Jersey and writes regularly about what she calls “the after-college” at her blog.]

If you’re a little frightened to enter the working world in today’s economy, you’re not alone—many grads find the financial climate intimidating. But the key to landing a job in these tough times is to press on with your job hunt, and get a little creative, too.

Create a strong marketing platform. Instead of fretting over what’s on CNN, arm yourself with a strong resume. If you’re not getting jobs, the economy isn’t solely to blame. Make sure you’re putting out a strongly written, error-free resume and that you practice interviewing with a friend or family member. Today’s job applicants can’t just present themselves; they have to sell themselves. So dazzle each cover letter and interview with concrete examples of why you are the best person for the job. No experience? Think about transferable skills.

Explore new careers. When job hunting, recent grads need to get over the fantasy of immediately landing their dream job. This is smart advice regardless of the economy. Consider something outside of your major. For example, an English major who wants to be a journalist can apply at newspapers and magazines and consider jobs in copy writing, editing or teaching. With the economy the way it is, sometimes having a job that’s not spot-on is better than having no job at all…just make sure it provides a solid foundation for your career.

Limit job-hunting time. Certainly you should devote time and energy—and use every resource—to get a job. But everyone needs a break. Hunt in spurts and take a rest when need be. And limit your exposure to dismal media reports. Everyone knows the job market is difficult; don’t let the doom-and-gloom news deter you from success!

Read other LinkedIn blog posts featuring tips to grad students here

[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Patricia Pasick is a family psychologist and expert on families in transition. She authored Almost Grown (W. W. Norton, 1998), and writes frequently on young adults and families. Here are some of her tips for newly graduating students, and their parents.]

Tips for graduates:

1. Swallow your well-earned pride and ask parents and relatives to share their networks. It doesn’t mean you haven’t left the nest. Interviews are landed through connections.

2. Set boundaries. Don’t let your folks go hugely to bat for you, or enable you to skip interviews.

3. Enter the family business, or work for a parent? Only if it meets your career goals and only if you report to someone else. It’s tricky. Read some books on family businesses.

4. Need start-up cash or insurance? Ask for monetary graduation gifts. Beyond six months after graduation, make business-like loan agreements with your parents, and share your budget.

5. College loans! Don’t trap yourself by taking the first job, just to make payments. The loans were for you to seriously enter the job market, not just work to pay them off.

Tips for parents:

1. Expect a transition period of a month or so. Procrastination doesn’t mean necessarily mean being stuck.

2. Your best lines:” What can I do to support you right now?” or “Do you want some contacts?”

3. Your greatest gift: expressed confidence in your graduate, even if you have doubts.

4. Please don’t nag or criticize (“Haven’t you filled that out yet?”). Instead, offer a story about how you once helped yourself with feeling discouraged, or stuck.

5. Don’t rescue beyond your means, or help financially without agreed-upon terms.

6. No lessons. The world has changed.

[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. Kim Little, Owner of Executive Resume Pro, has been writing resumes and helping all levels of candidates, including new graduates, empower their own job search since the 1990s]

For students, the most important hurdle they have to overcome is a lack of experience, but how do they get that experience if nobody will give them a chance? If you arm yourself with a well-written, professionally formatted resume which highlights your achievements, skills and experience, you will boost your chances of gaining valuable interviews. To differentiate yourself from other college grads or entry-level applicants, keep the following tips in mind.

Try not to use a vague objective statement that only talks about you. For example: “To join a progressive organization where I can expand my skills in selling and communications” is only about YOU, the candidate. You might instead want to lead with the following: “Enthusiastic graduate with demonstrated initiative, creativity, strong communication skills and real-life business experience conducive to making measurable contributions in a marketing setting.” You are then giving the reader a better understanding of what you can offer them vs. what you want.

When listing your education, don’t forget about relevant coursework, classroom projects and/or school involvement that shows your leadership skills including raising money for a cause, contributing in a hands-on or real-world classroom experience. If you were recognized for academic achievement, list those as well. Internships are also very important, even if they are not relevant to your target position. When you talk about your internships, you let the reader know that you take your future career seriously.

As for any employment, don’t list just your duties – think about how you contributed including how you increased sales, improved customer service or enhanced process, i.e., a more efficient way of doing things. Don’t forget to customize your cover letters and send a thank you note after every interview, reiterating a key topic or two that you discussed. Many people forget this important step, and if the company has narrowed the search to just a few candidates including you, this one step might make the difference.