We tweeted. You clicked. Here are some of the most popular tweets we sent out this week…

• Take the Assessment or Just Forget It? http://bit.ly/bsqi6Y

• Former Jobster CEO in Feud With Citibank Over Gay Network http://bit.ly/bNmoIb

• Are You a Good Recruiter? http://bit.ly/95wC1o

• Are These 4 Survival Tips Helpful? http://bit.ly/c0jYXZ

• Who’s Really Getting Your Paycheck? http://bit.ly/cDMJ1B

• Have You Lost Communication? http://bit.ly/ae4

• And Google Begat… The search giant’s former employees are seeding tech startups—and shaping another wave of innovation http://bit.ly/c7PAey

As a job seeker, active networking can be crucial to finding a job. Why is networking so important? It allows the job seeker to be available and to expand relationships in terms of job hunting.

Networking doesn’t require much skill or talent, just a desire to grow and expand. Everything on our list can quickly help introduce you to new opportunities, introductions and more!

Here’s a question for you: have you ever Googled your name?  If not, you may want to take a moment to type it into the search bar and see what comes up!

In our previous blog post, we told you to Google your name. Why? When doing research prior to your job hunt, it is always important to not only research potential employers but yourself as well! Many hiring managers and recruiters do this, so that means your online presence can make or break your job search now more than ever before. Make sure positive and professional content appears under your name before someone may find something you won’t want to be seen.

As a job seeker, using popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can present a great opportunity for self-promotion, both on personal and professional levels. As a result, a growing number of recruiters have taken notice and scout these networks for potential candidates. When choosing to use social networking sites as a job-hunting tool, it is important to understand how recruiters and hiring managers can review your profiles to assess you as a candidate and potential hire.

Having poor communication skills can have a negative effect on the relationships you share with coworkers, a boss or other employees. Productivity may even decrease due to a lack of effective communication in your workplace. Therefore, effective communication is extremely important and can play a key factor in the success of individuals in the workplace.

If you improve your interpersonal communication skills, you will in turn achieve more successful work relationships. Why? People who can communicate well know how to effectively send and receive messages. They not only get their point across but also listen while using both verbal and nonverbal cues. Are you an effective communicator? How can you improve your communication skills?

A layoff can be difficult to handle, but how you react to it is extremely important to the future of your career. In a recent turn of events, television host Conan O’Brien became part of one of the most infamous layoffs when he was let go by NBC. During his monologue on Monday night, Conan pretty much summed it up to audience members by saying:

“Hi, I’m Conan O’Brien and I need all of you to write me a letter of recommendation.”

In today’s economic climate, those of us who are employed face intensified pressures while working for understaffed companies. At a time when a shortage of staff means longer hours, more tasks, less vacation time and working from home, it’s hard to separate our personal lives from work. The work life balance can be one of the most difficult aspects of managing a career but in order to succeed, you need to have a balanced lifestyle.

The New Year marks new beginnings and time for a fresh start. As you consider your resolutions and changes for 2010, have you mapped out your career goals? To help make career planning easier in 2010, consider using a career ladder! As you further your career into the New Year and beyond, think about the steps you will take on your own personal career ladder. Read over this blog post and create your own ladder, filling in the steps you have taken and where you would like to go.

The effects of social media over the last year are undeniable and will definitely continue to effect job seeking in 2010. What could that mean for your professional career? As you reflect over 2009, consider your social networking pages and how they point towards your future growth.

Let’s break down the year in numbers and see how the growth of social media can give you insight into job seeking for 2010!

Believe it or not, you can pick up on a lot of tips for your own job search from Santa Claus! Let me paint a different picture of Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick. As you read this blog post, think about the kinds of traits and qualities Santa’s got that you could use in your own professional career.

After all, Santa’s got a job this holiday season, so why don’t you?