People@Work: Social media gives job seekers a leg up in finding work

Welcome to People@Work,

DailyFinance's new weekly workplace column written by career columnist David Schepp. In the weeks and months to come, we'll explore a wide range of topics, including workplace etiquette, worker productivity and strategies to get your career heading in the right direction. We'll also look to get your feedback and invite you to ask your career questions, which we'll pose to experts. So stayed tuned.

In this inaugural column, we take a look at social media and how it's becoming a powerful tool for finding work in an increasingly crowded job market.

No one needs to tell anyone who has lost a job recently that finding a new one in this economy is difficult. The good news is job seekers today have many more tools at their disposal than they did even five years ago. Beyond online job boards and resume submission, social media Web sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are playing an increasingly important role in helping unemployed workers and job-changers find someone they can connect with at virtually any company or organization.