By Dave Mendoza, Master Cybersleuth, an Affiliate Partner, JobMachine Inc. Call Me Directly

Yesterday I hit 10,500 connections on Linkedin.

I am stating it not to boast - I sincerely want to mark the occasion to publicly thank everyone who has connected with me AND for those new to this site, I am extending an Open Invite to send me a direct invitation to connect and network on Linkedin.

I thought Glenn Gutmacher put it best, that I have been fortunate to stand “… on the shoulders of giants” and certainly, this would be an opt description for Shally Steckerl and Glenn. I live and breathe social networking and an hour doesn’t go by that I am not logged into my Linkedin account availing myself to fellow colleagues and varied passive talent groups.

To be a recruiter and not actively utilizing Linkedin as part of your daily resources is to proceed into the War for Talent unarmed. I encourage all of my colleagues to embrace networking by first and foremost reaching out to your fellow colleagues who sit next to you, across the nation and globally to share best practices and to mutually benefit from 2nd and 3rd degrees of inclusion.

IF you and I are not connected directly as of yet, I encourage you to feel free to send me a direct invite on Linkedin today. It’s Simple: Click the Orange Tab Button “Expand My Network” on the Top Right of..., insert my first Name, Last Name and my email, ldavemendoza@gmail.com and insert your personalized Text and SEND.

To view my Linkedin Profile and nearly 60 recommendations, Click Here

JOIN OUR GROUPS

Today, I also extend an Open Invite to join over 1,000 staffing professionals at the Official “SixDegrees” Linkedin Group. The Group’s purpose is to develop “A focus group of fellow evangelists who value the development of building Passive Talent Relationships as a means of enhancing Best Practices, Meeting Pipeline demands, and building value in community. Let’s Build ideas in the Web 2.0 arsenal in the War for Talent.” By joining, you will gain the Ability to “People Search” among fellow members, Avoid using InMail credits, in favor of an Introduction among fellow members, Accelerate careers/business through referrals from fellow Group members, AND Know more than a name - view rich professional profiles from fellow enthusiasts of “Passive Talent Relationships.” Here’s the link to join:

Also JOIN world renown, Shally Steckerl’s “CyberSleuthing”LinkedIn Group

REACH OUT: Thought Leaders & Power Connectors

I’ve taken the liberty to likewise strongly encourage you to reach out and network with my colleagues:

** Shally Steckerl, his email: shally@jobmachine.net ** Glenn Gutmacher, his email: firstname.last@microsoft.com

Both Shally & Glenn are also open networkers.

As my colleagues would profess, there is value in sharing our contacts on LinkedIn. Here’s one of Shally’s famous articles written on LinkedIn if you are interested:

“Becoming A Promiscuous Linker on Linkedin“: http://www.ere.net/blogs/CyberSleuthing/5906A153A51141918B6697BF535...

Reach out my friends. Feel free to send me an invite and be part of a broader circle within “Six Degrees From Dave”

Always strive to be part of something bigger than yourself. I thank Linkedin for continuing to innovate and its ability to foster the most successful Business Professional Networking platform for social networking. For all the competition in this field, as a recruiter, no other site has been so resourceful to our industry.

PS: Consider networking with fellow CyberSleuths and staffing industry leaders I admire. I have provided Linkedin Profiles for each of the following:

* Amy Beth Hale * Barry Geiman
* Carl Chapman
* Craig Silverman
* Dakotta Alex
* Dennis Smith
* Eric Jaquith
* Gerry Crispin
* Jason Davis, Founder, RecruitingBlogs.com
* Jason Gorham
* Joel Cheesman
* Jim Stroud
* Jorrit Blok
* Keith Robinson
* Kevin Wheeler
* Krista Bradford
* Leslie O’Connor
* Mark O’Connor
* Maureen Sharib
* Michael Kelemen
* Otis Collier
* Rob McIntosh
* Russ Moon
* Sean Rehder
* Seth Williams
* Steve Levy
* Steven Rothberg
* Susan Burns
* Suzy Tonini
* Tim O’Connor