Working with a Net

Does electronic communication trump the human touch when it comes to professional networking? 

The fact of the matter is, networking is still based on the same social conventions that have already gotten you this far in your career: etiquette, focus and organization still carry the day, whether you’re meeting contacts at traditional mixers or via social-networking sites. 

The biggest change (and challenge) is the potential scope of your networking efforts when the entire Web can be applied to your job search. Cast your net too wide, and you may dilute your efforts and waste precious time. 

In this package, business writer Kevin Fogarty talks to high-tech job seekers and consultants about how candidates can use the Web without finding themselves tangled in distractions.

"The most important thing is to have a strategy," consultant Paul Gillin told Fogarty. "You can't put the tool first; you have to know what you're looking for and then use the tool – whether it's Twitter or LinkedIn or Plaxo or another service – to help you get there."