I had the opportunity to share some advice with job seekers on a local cable access station in my area today. The last question in the interview was what kind of advice would I give to serious job seekers. The first thing that came to mind was to tell job seekers to build their network.

Today, more than ever, we have new ways to build a professional network. Professional organizations hold regular mixers, there are coffee shops on every corner for brief one-on-one meetings, and we have numerous online opportunities through social networking. I strongly recommend building your network utilizing these tools on all fronts.

In my opinion, personal one-on-one, face-to-face networking is always the best way to go. It allows people to get a true sense of who you are, how you behave in certain circumstances, and how candid you are during a conversation. If your job search is primarily local, I would be working diligently to get out on foot and meet people face to face.

On the other hand, if you’re doing a national job search, the online social networking front is going to be just as crticial as the face-to-face. My advice though, is to reach out and create as many personal contacts as possible. Use the resources that are available to you to improve your presence. I would recommend going ahead and using that telephone and reaching out to someone on a personal level. Schedule getting to know you conference calls with people whom you can contact in your online network just as you would schedule a one-on-one meeting at your local coffee shop. Heck, share a virtual cup of coffee while you’re sitting at your desk on the telephone. If you have a reliable web cam, microphone, and internet connection, why not schedule a virtual meeting using SKYPE or another online web conferencing service?

One of the reasons the virtual networking sites have taken off is because it allows people to get a deeper sense of someone that they don’t really know. If you want to leverage your linkedin network, see if it’s possible to schedule a telephone call with someone at a company on your “A” list for career prospects. I can’t imagine someone being able to provide a strong referral for a candidate that they haven’t even had a personal conversation with. You see, there’s still a sense of safety and distance in relying on a virtual network. There is still a disconnect. Sure they are real people and contacts, and yes, they might help you, but building a network is still about building contacts and relationships. Your network is still about who you KNOW. In my opinion, it’s still easier to get to know someone through face-to-face meetings and telephone calls.

So as I wrap up this post today, please understand that I AM advocating building your personal and professional network on as many fronts as possible. What I am EMPHASIZING is that a virtual contact is still very different from a live contact. Utilize ALL the skills and communication systems available to you today to continue to build your network so that you can make it a viable network.