When asked what one of the top job search requirements is, every advice blog you read, career counselor you talk to, and mentor in your field will all include one common practice: networking. Lucky for you, society is making networking increasingly easy, accessible and generation-friendly with events like Speed Networking and websites like Network Roulette.

We've told you before about the hottest new site for networking, Network Roulette, where professionals in the field and up and coming job seekers meet to chat and form bonds that will help them in the working world.

It's Monday...you've heard about networking before...so I'm going to give you Careerealism's 60 Seconds of Networking Adivce list of pointers. Ready, set, network!

There are a myriad of ways to begin networking, whichever route you embark on keep the following in mind:

• Be aggressive but polite.

In an attempt to make networking and learning about your industry even more accessible and convenient there now exists a website called Evisors. I found out about Evisors through Alexandra Levit’s Water Cooler Wisdom career advice blog. She recently highlighted the website and talked about its’:

Going to a job interview is (usually) not fun. You are nervous, tense and slightly sweaty. But at least you have had time to prepare and somewhere in the back of your head you know you can actually be self-confident.

I’ve been on a networking kick my last few blog posts so I’m going to keep it going one more week due to the oh-so-important nature of the act. Last week I told you who to target when trying to network, this week I’m going to assume you took my extremely intelligent advice and now that you have your network I’m going to tell you how to keep in touch with them.

Last week I told you how not to look for a job…this week I’m going to give you a little insight into a good way to look for a job. I know this word haunts you as much as it haunted me but it’s an important one... networking. At this point that sounds so repetitive I’m sure a few of you have already clicked away from this blog post, but for the smart ones that stuck around, get ready to be inspired!

After looking back at a number of my blogs, I realized that I frequently mention the idea of going out and networking but I never really followed through with the "how-to." I get that networking can be intimidating and a little nerve wracking, but in a world where there are far too many people looking for jobs and perhaps only a handful of jobs open that you want to take, every little bit counts. The article, How to Network Without Being Phony, Lame or Desperate gives some great tips on how to network correctly. Here is a quick run through of the main points you need to remember while networking:

• Remember there's nothing phony, lame or desperate about being out of a job.
• Change your mind about what you're networking for.
• Remember that it's not all about you.
• Be yourself.
• Tell your story without the usual job-search downers.
• Have a full calendar. Have an agenda.
• Thank your networking partner immediately afterward and confirm you'll stay in touch.
• Pay it back.

For further details on these points, read the article!

"jus'a web....with a bit of dew here and there!!" courtesy Jus'fi via Flickr Creative Commons

Ever heard the old adage. "it's not what you know, it's who you know?" An anonymous yet inspirational quote about networking, personal social networks are in fact key sources of labor and information in a rapidly growing, global economy.

The dazzling stream of available technology enables workers to connect to diverse, far-flung networks that can help them leverage their own careers. Known as a kind of "invisible work," creating social networks can empower workers if they are successful at maintaining them, and can also help them take on their jobs effectively.

However, as the global economy continues to become even more global, the competition in the job market continues to grow as well. A graduate college student must not only be qualified for a job, he or she must exceed expectation. Rather than simply knowing the right people, gaining real world experience is also a critical step. It's what you know and who you know that often makes the difference,

College student internships are a great way to build an impressive resume, as well as give students the opportunity to make valuable industry contacts. The people you meet along the way during your college career may be essential in helping you land that ideal job upon graduation.

Many other opportunities to gain work experience can even be found on your college or university campus. By utilizing resources at school, you may find a campus job in your own field of study. That valuable experience may one day land you a position in the career field that you love.

By keeping in mind the social aspect of making good contacts while gaining real world experience, you can be well on your way to landing that dream job. My advice to you? Get in there and mingle.

"Floating Network" courtesy WebWizzard via Flickr Creative Commons

My name is Sean and I just finished high school. I'll be off to the University of Mary Washington in the fall but until then I plan to make the most out of the next couple of months, starting with this cool little internship. That being said, don't get too attatched; I'll only be here until June 10th. Until then, read and enjoy. By the way I live and breathe movies; I reviewed them for my school paper and I own 100+ DVDs. This means I might be throwing some obscure references around here and there, so consider yourself warned.