Social networking gives job seekers the distinct advantage of having one more type of weapon in their arsenal of tactics. When confronted with an unexpected layoff or a corporate downsizing, job seekers usually react in one of two ways: 

• They take immediate action, sending a barrage of resumes through the digital space without even mulling whether to update that resume  
• They slip into a pair of sweatpants, fall into a funk for a while, and consider writing that novel they've started on and off for the past 11 years.  

The more effective reaction is a strategic and reasoned approach to not only securing a job, but securing the job that best suits your skills and your passions. In the mix of all this, however, is an innate tendency to be slow to act when it comes to networking. Quite frankly, most people would sooner not go out and network face to face if they could. They would much rather network from the comfort of a La-Z-Boy ™ recliner with laptop in hand.

Yet job seekers must be willing to get out of their comfort zones to test many different ways of connecting with people during their job searches. While it is never easy to be out of a job, today's applicants have an unprecedented advantage by having primed social networks available and at their fingertips in ways that simply weren't available to job seekers even a handful of years ago.

No One is Exempt from Job Seeking

If you're one of the few who are independently wealthy, then perhaps you needn't worry about a job. But the vast majority of us are not exempt. You may be highly educated, highly skilled, highly motivated, or all of the above. You might be just starting out fresh from high school, trade school, or college. Regardless, job-seeking savvy will give you a critical advantage.

Perhaps you have changed jobs frequently. Have you ever been called a job hopper? Maybe you've been downsized or flat out fired from a job or two. Some of you have gone through the humbling experience of having to trudge to the unemployment office for a canned orientation and an interview with an employment counselor. Regardless of the reasons behind your job search, the experience always comes with an ample dose of pain, frustration, and anxiety.

Let's face it. Being out of work, unsure about your future, and having to look for a job is likely one of the more memorable times in your adult life. And not the good kind of "memorable"!

But the forecast for your job search is only partly cloudy. Obtaining a great job may not happen easily or immediately, but the goal is to move in a positive direction as opposed to being like a gerbil on a wheel-moving frantically but getting nowhere fast.

Remember that being out of a job is not the end of the world. For some, it may represent a crisis, but it's also an opportunity. A job search offers individuals time to reflect and consider a new direction. View unemployment as an opportunity to reposition, reestablish, and rethink an important part of your After all, it's never "just a job"-it's 80% of your waking life-so you might as well make it count! What type of work would be most meaningful and rewarding to you? With patience, persistence, and a tactical approach, you will give yourself every opportunity to land your dream job.

Have a Roadmap

How will you get where you want to go without a roadmap? If you're like most people, you might be inclined to job search on instinct or let the marketplace of available jobs dictate how your search will go. Today's job seeker cannot afford to take this loose approach.

Frankly, the majority of job seekers don't have time to wander aimlessly through the process. They have mortgages to pay, families to feed, and expenses that won't wait. So rather than find yourself hopelessly stranded on a dead-end path, we will arm you with directions-and a few shortcuts- on the road to your next job. Of course, you'll also need a steady dose of motivation to keep going when the job seeking gets tough.

Your job search may be urgent, or you may have the luxury of more time to plan. You might be just starting your career, or you might be in the midst of a career change after many years or decades. Regardless, online job strategies and tactics are equally applicable. All successful projects start with the end result in mind, and your job search is no exception. Making your goal as clear and specific as possible is critical..

Think Temporary

Over a lifetime of employment, always remember to maintain this mentality: Every job is temporary.

By no means does this suggest that you should be disloyal to your employer or that you should work as if you have one foot out the door. However, you should, always approach any job with an eye toward what's next. This philosophy will keep you in a professional development mindset and thus allow you to take advantage of every opportunity to advance your skills from any position.

You must be willing to acknowledge and accept the reality that it is highly unlikely that you will stay in one job for the duration of your professional career. Those days are largely gone, so your network will built not for one next job, but for your long-term professional life.

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer.  Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. 

To schedule an individual consultation or group workshop on online job-search, visit http://www.OnlineJobSearchBook.com.