Wait, what? You mean there is a use for LinkedIn? Yes there is, and the White House has found it!

According to the LinkedIn blog, the White House has been using the “Questions” feature on LinkedIn to ask small business owners what they think about healthcare reform.

“CEA Chair Christina Romer has posed a question on LinkedIn to engage in a dialogue with the small business community. She will be addressing your comments and questions in a live online video chat this coming Wednesday. We urge you to take part in this important dialogue and share your expertise and insights with our policy makers.”

Check out the full post at the LinkedIn blog here. And even better, check out Romer’s video answering the questions she received on LinkedIn here.

Nisha Chittal is a writer and journalist who currently serves as Associate Editor of CitizenJanePolitics.com and is a political columnist for UniversityChic.com. Her personal blog is Politicoholic, where she offers commentary on a range of topics, including but not limited to politics, technology, and the changing role of women and Generation Y in politics today.

Bizzywomen.com had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Chandlee Bryan, career management consultant and the founder of  Best Fit Forward.

Can you tell us about yourself?   

I am a career management consultant and the founder of Best Fit Forward (www.bestfitforward.com), a boutique provider of resume writing and career coaching. I currently serve as the “resume specialist” for Microsoft Office Live’s My Resume Talks program (www.officelivestudent.com), and facilitates programming for New York City Job Seekers Meet-up (www.meetup.com/nycjobseekers).

Prior to founding Best Fit Forward, I worked in Career Services at Ivy League schools for eight years, serving as Director of Career Services at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. I have also worked as a recruiter. I write and speak about a diverse range of topics, from resume writing and interviewing skills to using social media in the job search.

There are a lot of coaches out there. What do you feel separates  you from everyone else? 

Like many coaches, I have a diverse set of skills and experiences that help inform my work with clients. As I spent over eight years working in Career Services at Ivy League schools, I would say that my personal “nitch” is entry-level career management strategies, and that my “secondary” differentiators are my experience in working with professional development of scientists and engineers as well as my experience in teaching others to use social media.

Do you think that there is value in using social media sites such  as Twitter and Linkedin to get a job? 

I feel that there is enormous value in utilizing social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to find a position, and that–in fact–the use of such sites has become virtually essential in the current job market. Consider the RiseSmart statistic that job seekers spend an average of 50 hours a month online as part of their search, and the perennial wisdom that 60 to 80% of job offers are the direct result of networking–clearly any technique you can use to increase personal one-to-one exposure and interaction is enormously helpful.

Social networking sites facilitate these connections and can be incredibly powerful when used with intention. (A key element to position yourself for success is to communicate interests and experience in a consistent, concise manner across social networking platforms and to demonstrate willingness to help others.) 

In today’s situation of high unemployment, what would you tell job seekers to focus on in order to get a job? 

In today’s market, you have to “lean forward” to approach the market rather than “lean back,”  apply and wait for an offer to happen. 

Be clear about what you can do, and what value you offer others before you jump into the market. Research trends, employer needs, and demonstrate your knowledge of a position/industry throughout the application process. Ask questions to determine how your skills fit organizational needs, and articulate the impact that you can offer. 

Strive to be less than “an anonymous applicant.” When possible, identify hiring managers and stakeholders in advance of applying for positions…and let your contacts within an organization know that you’ve applied for a job with their company.

Be willing to consider contract work as a way inside the door. Many employers can make short-term commitments before they can make long-term ones.

Thank you.

One of the most popular business tools in the Web 2.0 world is Linkedin. If you are not on Linkedin yet, I would highly encourage you to get there, set up a profile and start connecting with your network. More and more business networking and connecting are happening using Linkedin, it is a tool that makes it easier to connect your network. Here are several ways that you can effectively use Linkedin to help you save time, support your network, pass referrals, and set yourself apart as an expert.

1. Set up your profile – Make it complete, many people go to profiles to learn more about you and your business, what your experience is, as well as where you went to school, and who you know.

2. Put a professional photo on your profile – Linkedin is not a “social” site, it is geared more for business and business people. Make sure that you are putting your best smile forward. If you do not have a professional photo get one!

3. Ask for recommendations – If you have done work for one of your clients or network members ask them if they would consider writing a recommendation for you. Last week I spoke at the BNI National Conference, several people asked me later what they could do for me. I asked each of them, if they had been in my presentation would they please go to my Linkedin Profile and write a recommendation. I asked them to list 2-3 things that they learned and why they would recommend me to others. In the Referrals for Life Program we teach our students how to write good testimonials for one another, a recommendation on Linkedin simply makes that testimonial public.

4. Invite your Network to Link - how many people do you have in your database? How many of them are already on Linkedin? Start connecting to them and invite the ones who are not on the site to join you. When you have your network on the site and you are linked to them it will make it so much easier to pass referrals and make connections between each other. You can make connections for one another on Linkedin. No more going through your CRM finding the information on a contact then emailing it. You can simply make connections on the Linkedin site.

5. Answer Questions – find questions that you can answer that will help you be seen as an expert. Because of a question that I answered on Linkedin, I was ask to speak on a conference call to a group of Female CEO’s. Find the questions on topics that you are expert in and answer them well. You can also use these same questions in your blog and newsletters.

Last week, one person in my network, connected me to someone in his network who had ask him if he would make the connection. After some conversation he ask me if I would consider speaking at the regional conference for his organization. I then connected him to someone that he saw in my network whom he thought would be good for a future speaking engagement.

Of all the sites that I am on, Linkedin is the one that makes it easy to connect my networks and help them to connect to one another, it is a perfect tool when you are in the Referrals for Life Program. Remember Linkedin is a tool that enhances, not replace your face to face networking.

Hazel M Walker, owns three award winning franchise’s. She is a 10 year owner of two BNI Franchises where she teaches members how to leverage their time and network to build each others businesses. She is also a Referral Institute franchise owner and teaches Business Owners how to harness the Science of Referrals to develop Referrals for Life. Hazel is a published author in New York Times best sellers Masters of Networking and Masters of Sales. As a member of the National Speakers Association she travels the world speaking to businesses and women’s organizations on the topics of networking to create a life you love.