By Brigitte Yuille

Job seekers may have noticed that job boards and the traditional résumé just aren’t cutting it these days. Recruiters and employers are choosing to post jobs online at sites such as LinkedIn and Craigslist. The online option has become a cheaper alternative to the job boards because they are free.

Recruiters and employers have also become more tech-savvy and whizzes at social networking. The traditional résumé is no longer the first impression. By the time a recruiter or employer sees it they may have already Googled the job seeker’s name and/or looked them up on LinkedIn and Facebook in search of their online profile.

Most likely, this impromptu background check occurred on their mobile phone. Welcome to the digital age. Here’s a look at four of the latest job searching trends and ways you can leverage your search.

Social-Networking Sites
If you don’t have a profile on a social-networking site, you will need one. The sites have been the new hunting ground for job candidates.

Job seekers can use social-networking sites to showcase their skills. For instance, LinkedIn, a professional networking site, allows users to build an online profile that includes resumes, a recommendation and references. It also provides applications. Facebook has “Professional Profile” which allows you to upload your résumé or import your LinkedIn profile and recommendations. Job seekers on Facebook can also set up an advertising page to sell their skills.

The sites can help you learn about a company and stay current with its activities by following updates on Twitter and Facebook. They also enhance your ability to make connections. Since employers and recruiters are slowly moving away from job boards, the boards can be used as a resource. Author Dan Schawbel of “Personal Branding Blog” advises job seekers to find the job of interest on the board and then go to the social-networking site to locate a hiring manager or a person who may work at the company.

Smart Phones
No longer do you have to sit behind a computer scouring job boards. The job search has now become mobile. Smart phones, such as Palm Pre, Google Nexus One, the iPhone and the BlackBerry have made it easier to access the Web while running errands and receive e-mails from job prospects, and either conduct a search or follow your company of interest on a social-networking site. Most importantly, these phones provide apps. Apps, such as CareerBuilder.com and Craigster on the iPhone, streamline your job search by helping to track job listings and they create or enhance networking opportunities.

Podcasts
No time for an Internet search? Another option is podcasts. The audio file can be downloaded to your computer or onto your mobile. Recruiters are using these for audio presentations on topics such as preparing a résumé and interviewing tips. Employers are “jobcasting.” They are using podcasts to advertise positions at the company and are offering interviews from current employees.

Job seekers can use podcast to help build their personal brand. They can include their 30-second elevator pitch. They can also further expand upon their accomplishments and skills by describing projects that they would like to work on and what they can add to the project, projects they are currently working on and projects that have been successfully completed.

Blogs
Creating and starting your own blog allows you to share your expertise in your job industry. Job seekers can provide analysis on trends and further expand upon your accomplishments and skills listed in their traditional résumé.

Reading blogs from companies of interest keeps job seekers current on their activities and provides insight about the companies’ culture.

Career-related blogs–such as Monster, Jibber Jobber and Personal Branding Blog–help with job leads, provide inspiring stories and give advice describing ways to conduct the job hunt and/or keep your job.

Conclusion
Employers and recruiters are looking for a virtual portfolio in 2010. As a job seeker, having an online presence is a must. These online platforms allow job seekers to stay informed about their companies of interest, the job search, and the platforms provide a means to build their brand and advertise their skills and accomplishments.