What was once a new idea is now an accepted reality: your network is critical to your long-term career success. It also can be pretty helpful when you're trying to find a job. As most of you know, networking happens on multiple levels.

Chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, professional associations and non-profits offer a diverse array of opportunities to meet the people who create jobs. And if you are a young professional, making connections with others like yourself offers real advantages.

A newer form of networking has been created by the social media scene. If you aren't savvy about social media, give it a try. It creates linking opportunities that simply don't exist through any other approach.

MAKING CONNECTIONS