By Shelley Levitt
23 December 2009

Courtesy of USAA

1. Make sure your online profile includes the right keywords and acronyms. Choose ones a recruiter may search for, says Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author of Sams Teach Yourself LinkedIn in 10 Minutes. “If you hold a PMP certification, don’t just say that you’re a project manager,” she suggests.

2. Post a photo on your social media profiles. It will help your connections remember you when they’re looking for someone with your skill set, says Michelle Brusyo of Jump Start Social Media.

3. Remember that social networking is a two-way conversation. Be active, sharing your knowledge and links to relevant information.

4. Show off your writing skills and expertise when you blog or tweet. Go beyond “I’m watching American Idol and eating spaghetti for the third night in a row.”

5. Be prudent if you’re currently employed. Don’t broadcast your job search; instead use social media to look for opportunities and build your network.

6. Ask for recommendations. “People with endorsements get a lot more attention,” says Dion Lim, president of SimplyHired.com, a search engine for jobs. “To make it easier for colleagues to write endorsements, remind them of some of the quality work you’ve done.”

7. Clean up your digital dirt. Google yourself to see what a potential employer would find. Delete inappropriate photos and ask others to un-tag photos of yourself that you wouldn’t want potential employers to see.

Visit Mashable.com for tips on using Twitter in your job search.

USAA, a diversified financial services group of companies, is among the leading providers of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their families. For the past three years, BusinessWeek magazine ranked USAA among the top two “Customer Service Champs,” highlighting our legendary commitment of providing highly competitive financial products for approximately 7 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.