An online network comes in particularly handy when you're job hunting. Having a large base of contacts can give you an added advantage, because the more people you know, the greater your chances of hearing about career opportunities. In addition, registering with sites geared toward professionals such as LinkedIn.com or Ryze.com, can help hiring managers find you. But be careful as you navigate the social scene in cyber space. Being connected online to your professional peers can help you, but it can also hurt you if you're not judicious about the types of information you post.

Keep the following in mind when using networking sites to help advance your career:

• Take charge of your image. Treat your profile on networking sites like a resume and include information that will give peers a sense of your background and skill sets. Leave out facts unrelated to your professional history, goals and image.
  
  
• Correspond with a professional flare. Keep in mind that online business networking differs from social networking on the Web in a number of ways. While the Net can often feel fast and loose, be sure to maintain an air of professionalism at all times when interacting with existing or potential business contacts. This means avoiding a too-casual tone and the overuse of personal information. It also means responding promptly when someone contacts you and reciprocating when others provide you with help, just as you would on the job. Messages may be easily forwarded or passed on to others, so write in complete sentences and use correct grammar and spelling.
  
  
• Don't depend exclusively on the digital world. Online networking may allow you more opportunities to reach out to many professionals, but face-to-face interaction is still key in solidifying connections. Ideally, the two should complement each other. Renewing ties in person with past colleagues from internships or jobs, friends from college and your alumni network can generate useful information about companies, industries and locations.

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