By Brenda Krueger Huffman

(AXcess News) Chicago - I think everyone agrees the real U.S. unemployment rate is at roughly 14% to as high as 24% depending on location and whether or not those that are underemployed and still looking for a more appropriate position or have become frustrated in their job search and have given up looking for now are added to the official U.S. unemployment rate of 9.5%.  On second thought, perhaps the politicians may not agree touting the "Recovery Summer," yet if you are like millions of Americans, you have faced 2010 unemployed or underemployed and looking for a job.

Even the employed have polished their resumes in 2010 being proactive and prepared if necessary.  Yet, thank goodness business goes on in the U.S. in a recession or not.  The employed and the business owner are marketing their products and services and always looking to increase their customer base.

Even in the midst of the high unemployment, college students are still going to be looking for internships to gain some needed work experience for their first official resume that begins their after graduation job search.  There will always be entrepreneurs starting their own business in any economic climate.

Many have turned to the Internet as a vital tool in their job search.  The career type websites have exploded since 2008 with job listings and job seeker sign-ups.  As many using these job hunting sites can tell you, this is a good thing and allows easy access for companies looking to hire and for job seekers looking to get hired.

Yet, the job seekers will also tell you, the majority of the job postings are often already filled shortly after being posted, or the positions are being filled with candidates that fit the "exact" keyword criteria listed.  There is no room for transferable skill sets from industry-to-industry or face-to-face opportunities for job seekers to sell themselves as an asset to a particular company.  Even in the age of numerous career websites, professionals know the majority of positions to be filled at the majority of companies are not listed on a job website.

Most people are familiar with the old saying "It's not what you know, but who you know in getting a job."  There is some truth to this whether fair or not and whether we like it or not.  You may not get a chance to discuss what you know in an actual job interview unless a person you know tells you about an open position at a company.

This saying may also be true for companies looking for new client contracts.  A strong professional network is valuable to everyone whether they are looking for a job, looking for an internship, looking to enter the work force for the first time out of college, or looking for clients for their new or existing business. Everyone in the business world knows this, yet many outside of the white-collar world may not make this investment in themselves.  This is a mistake.

Anyone in any industry at any employment level will benefit from developing a professional network.  Professional networking will always be an imperative element for a successful job search for the unemployed or for an increased professional image for the employed.  This is true whether you are in college, just out of college, at entry level, a mid-level manager, or a senior level professional.  It is true whether you are blue-collar, white-collar, green-collar, or no-collar.

It is never too early or too late to start professional networking.  Everyone you meet is a potential network possibility whether online or in person.   Many job and client seekers are turning to social media networking.  This is smart and forward thinking.

LinkedIn has emerged as not only the jobs tool for the 2010's, but also the premiere business tool in the United States and internationally.  Time just named LinkedIn to their "50 Best Websites 2010" list.

Why use LinkedIn?  LinkedIn answers this question by noting relationships matter, "Your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return. Our mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. We believe that in a global connected economy, your success as a professional and your competitiveness as a company depends upon faster access to insight and resources you can trust."

The latest LinkedIn figures back this up in today's business climate whether members are looking for a new job, a better job, to fill a position, or to expand their client base nationally or internationally:
* LinkedIn has over 75 million members in over 200 countries.
* A new member joins approximately every second, and about 1/2 of members are outside the U.S.
* Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

LinkedIn answers the question "What is LinkedIn?" with specifics about what you can do with their online business tool.  "When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then form enduring connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. Through your network you can:
* Manage the information that's publicly available about you as professional.
* Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended.
* Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files and solve problems.
* Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners.
* Gain new insights from discussions with likeminded professionals in private group settings.
* Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals.
* Post and distribute job listings to find the best talent for your company.

Page one | Page Two

Part 2 - Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn
Part 3 - LinkedIn Member Success
Part 4 - LinkedIn Features & Statistics
Part 5 - International Focus in a Global Economy