• The official blog of Abacus Group — a place to share our knowledge and thoughts on trends in recruiting •

It’s no surprise that LinkedIn is the top professional social networking site, connecting 200 countries worldwide. With over 130 million users in the United States alone, utilizing LinkedIn is one of the best ways to make connections and speed up your job search.

Networking is an important skill that most professionals know they should have, but are not well-versed in. Unless building connections is an important part of your business, it is likely that you do not have a lot of networking experience.

Going to networking events and building a list of industry contacts is a key part of advancing your career. As a recent grad, you might have networked a little at career fairs, but true networking events aren’t only about finding potential work opportunities. Following the tips below will ensure you walk in knowing everything you should, feeling confident, and make the right impression.