Can you use Facebook and Twitter to find job leads?

You can use Facebook, but first clean up your page and delete any controversial content or photographs. Use the status update tool on the site to ask your friends for help. “Write: ‘I’m looking for a job in D.C. in public policy. Anyone got any ideas? Leads? Advice?’ You will get feedback and help,” she said.

Search Twitter to find employees tweeting about their jobs. They may mention job openings that have not been posted or reveal information about a company that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, she said.

Create a profile on the LinkedIn Web site and urge your parents to sign up as well, so you can have access to their contacts. You might not want to friend your parents, but you definitely want to link to them. You need to use everyone who can help you in this market, and that means networking with your parents’ friends.

Once you find people who might be able to help, ask if you can meet with them briefly to talk about the career. Don’t ask about job openings at their company. Your approach is that you want information.