By Brian Malcom 

In case you have not figured it out, I am a fan of Web 2.0.  I think, when used properly, it is a valuable tool for young professionals.  CNNMoney seems to share my point of view. 

The CNNMoney article points out the usefulness of social networking sites in a recession.  According to the article, forums like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn may help you land a J-O-B in these hard times.  More than ever, our network contacts and friends have instant access to our "status."  For some folks, posting a status update on Facebook or Twitter about a recent job loss resulted in a quick offer from a friend or acquaintance.

As you probably already know, the web is a two-way "series of tubes."  Job seekers are finding that Web 2.0 can be a tool to get first notice of job openings.  "There are a variety of services associated with social networking sites to help too, like TweetMyJobs, which sends out automatic updates of new openings in a specific field and region sent to your cell phone or by Twitter. If you fan a company on Facebook or follow internal hiring managers on Twitter, you might be the first to find out about job openings at the employer of your choice. "

As online social networking grows in popularity, more and more professionals will find their way to these sites.  This means more and more professionals, more and more companies, and more and more recruiters will be users.  This could be a great thing, or it could be a bad thing.  The determining factor will be how you use the sites.  To beat a dead horse, be mindful of the content you post to your profiles and status updates.  Web 2.0 is not a bumper sticker, it is your modern face to the world whether you like it or not.

Make the web work for you.  Spare yourself and the world pictures of your drunken exploits or offensive diatribes.  Shine your shoes.  You just might be interviewing for a job.