(11ALIVE) - People who are looking for jobs are putting some tried and true principles to the test, using new networking tools.
Employment experts have always emphasized the importance of professional networking in the job search. In today's wired world, those networks are growing faster and reaching farther.
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the state's unemployment rate stands at 9.7 percent while the national unemployment rate is at 9.4 percent.
In January, Mark Stelzner took note of the unemployment trend and sent a simple message out to his followers on Twitter. His message posed a question: What if we all could unite and help one person find a job?
Stelzner's thought quickly spread across Twitter and within hours, Job Angels was born.
The Job Angels network essential turns the job search process up-side-down. Instead of job seekers actively looking for jobs, Angels put the power of the employment network to work to find potential jobs for the seeker.
Job Angels takes advantage of the speed and reach of social networks like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Job seekers are invited to message Job Angels directly. Then, Job Angels forwards the job seeker's interests and resume to all of its followers, effectively asking each follower to help that job seeker.
Over the past several months, Job Angels' network has grown by leaps and bounds. The organization has more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, over 3,000 members of its Facebook group and 8,500 members of its LinkedIn group.
Stelzner says Job Angels has directly helped hundreds of people find employment. It has also spurred people to act beyond the organization. "A lot of people tell us that Job Angels simply reminded them to help people they already know," he said. "So, many of those in need are simply using those existing networks of friends of family members, of neighbors to open up new opportunities, to gain a sympathetic ear, to get another set of eyes and ears on their resumes and their job search."
