Jobs and new economic opportunities are on the minds of millions of Americans. NextGenWeb hopes to help by sharing the latest information on what organizations, businesses, policymakers and individuals are doing to help. Earlier  today, NextGenWeb partnered with AARP to livestream an event on the topic of job-sharing , a compromise solution for employers to offer reduced hours instead of making layoffs. Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours, but AARP hopes to increase that number, since job-sharing is often an ideal solution for seniors who have harder a time competing for new employment opportunities.

But for anyone searching for a job in today’s tough employment market, broadband offers an attractive edge. Here are a few tips on using your high-speed connectivity to find and land your next job.

1) Job Search – The Internet is one of the best connections you can have to find a job. Job sites like Monster.com, Indeed.com and CareerBuilder.com provide listings of opportunities that you can search by location, industry and even qualifications. To get an idea of how many people use these sites, consider that Monster.com has over 75 million profiles and is consistently ranked among the 20 most popular destinations on the Internet.

2) Go Right to the Source – Many businesses with a website will also list their job openings. So definitely take the time to check the websites of prospective employers for openings. In fact, many companies accept, and even require, applications to be submitted online.

3) Build Your Web Presence – At the same time you’re searching for a job, it’s also good to spend some time developing your presence on social networking sites. A CareerBuilder report found that 29% of employers sought candidates on Facebook and 26% on LinkedIn. So take full advantage of your profile by putting your best foot forward and sharing job experience, contact information, and accomplishments. The same report found that 45% of companies visit a job candidate’s social media pages to vet candidates.

4) Interview Preparation – The Internet is an endless source of information. Take advantage by brushing up on the background of your potential employer, the leadership (especially if you know who will be interviewing you!), and the industry overall. You can also look up sample interview questions to make sure you’re prepared.

5) Correspondence – Stay connected! Use email to send resumes, confirm appointments and follow up with prospective employers. Email also offers a low-cost way to keep in touch with mentors and contacts in your industry to stay top of mind.

6) Entrepreneurship – Broadband is making it easier than ever for anyone to be an entrepreneur. If you have a skill or product that you’ve been thinking about marketing, now is your chance. Numerous free and low-cost online tools are available to help you market and process sales. My favorite story? A creme brulee cart operator in San Francisco who uses Twitter to announce his location to his 5,400 Twitter followers! Be creative and the opportunities will follow.

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