So you just graduated with a degree or diploma and want to land a spot on the roster of your dream job, something that pays you what you’re worth. Here’s how to follow through on the job chase. 

Join a network, building business-related relationships by opening a linked-in Twitter account. Sharing your thoughts with, and offering help to others may not pay immediate dividends, but everyone enjoys helping people they like. 

Always let people in your network know what you’re up to and what kind of job you’re looking for because you never know who might end up being a potential contact. Known as micro-blogging, Twitter is one of the best, and newest ways to build a network. It allows you to have brief two-way conversations with some of the major players and future employers in your chosen field. 

Develop a list of respectable followers and give intelligent updates to get their attention. When you inform your audience, make sure you tell them something they don’t know. Give them some news. 

After building a relationship with a contact, you can ask him or her for an informal interview. Offer to take them out for lunch and pick their brain for a half-hour or so.  Ask them about the company, why they chose to work there and what they see in the company’s future.

When you’re sitting at the interview and the employer asks why you want the job, thanks to Twitter, now you can mention you’ve already spoke to so and so, and they gave you vital background information.

These days making a website is easy and is a great way to get your work out there. For around $10 dollars a year you can get a personalized domain name (ie. www.johndoe.com). It gives you the potential to make your resume available at the employer’s fingertips.

Also, if you haven’t started a blog, do so. Besides writing a book showing your vast knowledge on a given topic, there’s nothing better to add to your resume. Like a website, it’s your personal online portfolio. If you’re a journalist, you can post links on Twitter to the stories you wrote in your blog. This might just get you a job offer before you even apply. 

Research different employers, but don’t focus on their pedigree.  Find out what kind of employer they are and if your personalities are compatible.

 Find out about the company’s history and culture; how they run things and what sort of office politics may exist within.

Employers love when applicants show a strong desire to work for them and that you’ve shown the initiative to research the company prior to the interview. 

Facebook is mostly regarded as a great means to keep in touch with family and old friends, but a lot of people don’t know how affective advertising on it can be. 

Facebook offers pay-per-click advertising.  Make a small, personalized ad, which will cost you virtually nothing. It’s a creative way to get attention.

For example, let’s say you would like a job at Google. Upload your picture and type below it, “My dream job is to work for Google. My name is John Doe and I graduated with a master’s degree in business from Harvard University.  Click here for my resume.” 

When posting directions on where the ad is to be placed, you can search for Facebook users who work at Google.  Most people are willing to help others, and when Google employees login to their Facebook, they’ll most likely see your ad. Now you’re in good position to receive e-mails from their staff, possibly giving you advice on how to land the job. This may be exactly what you need to get your name on the company’s radar. 

When you go after a job, you can’t afford to be passive when applying. Stay away from generic resumes. In fact, personalize each one for every respective employer. 

Take part-time jobs to boost your experience so when that major opportunity comes knocking, you’ll be ready. 

Go to career fairs and meet with prospective employers. Bring along your resume, so they can tell your investment and interest in them is substantial. 

A mistake grads often make is sending numerous e-mails to all kinds of companies without knowing what they’re even applying for. Instead, concentrate on just a few of your top picks.  If you’re not sure, putting an investment into any of those companies will tell you how much you really want to work for them.

Many job seekers forget to ask themselves, “Do I want to work for this company?” You should analyze the people you want to work for to the same degree they’re analyzing you. It’s not just about the employer picking you; it’s about you picking the employer.

I can only hope this advice helps you get your foot in the door. The rest is up to you.