Social networking is all the rage right now on internet, with websites bringing together people from different walks of life to share aspects of their life online. Contrary to what some may think, serious matters such as job hunting and sharing business contacts is also an important element in social networking.

Maltese professionals are making growing use of LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), an American website that supports them in creating business and professional contacts that can potentially lead to new jobs and rekindle old friendships. Most of the services offered are free of charge.

"LinkedIn is widely used by recruitment agencies to trawl for IT professionals to fill interim management contracts with Blue Chip companies. In fact, I was head-hunted for my current assignment with British Telecom by an agent looking for my particular skillet," revealed to i-Tech Vince Friggieri, a Maltese software test manager based in the UK for over 20 years. "A feature of the site is the facility to endorse the work of colleagues. In effect, it is an online database of references for IT professionals."

LinkedIn's online network has more than nine million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 130 industries. Through the network professionals can find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended; can be found for business opportunities; can search for jobs; can discover inside connections that can help them land jobs and close deals; can post and distribute job listings; find high-quality passive candidates; and get introduced to other professionals through the people you know.

"I found the idea behind LinkedIn appealing as a means to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, and to help them get back in touch with past acquaintances or introduce them to professional contacts - and vice versa," commented Angelica Micallef Trigona, human resources manager at the Malta office of software company GFI." The more each person grows his/her individual LinkedIn network, the wider the range of contacts per person on that network. I am not a "power user" but find it handy to trace or source contacts in a particular field or area."

"LinkedIn puts a personal networks to work - it leverages contacts (yours and those of people you know) to make things happen," said Orly Keren, a LinkedIn spokesman. "Whether it is making business connections, career-building, checking a reference, finding an expert source to interview for a story, finding a professional service provider, or getting business questions answered, LinkedIn delivers powerful search capabilities, services and a vast network of resources to find the highest quality contacts, most accurate information, and access to expertise."

The potential is huge, given that only a small input from a user is needed to get going.

"Setting up one's profile is a simple process. I just cut and pasted career details from my CV and added a few items of personal information," admitted Mr Friggieri. "As someone who is not easily surprised, I have to admit that I was astonished by the responses that my entry generated. Within three months my immediate contact list had grown to over 150 people. Many of whom that I had worked with in the past but lost touch over the years."

The network continues to evolve and new services are added regularly. With the new LinkedIn Answers service, users can ask business-related questions and get answers from their trusted network, as well as experts on the topic.

• The service is available at www.linkedin.com

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