Linked In certainly appears to be one of the best social networking sites that has helped contractors not only source new roles but also build and develop their network. Some contractors have been approached by recruiters for roles via their Linked In page and some have even been contacted by the client directly.

Of 173 that voted on the PCG website, over half believe Linked In is a vital tool for the modern freelancer. You can cast your vote here.

Twitter also bears some relevance for contractors. It can help a contractor showcase their skills, show off their personality and also help them source available contracts as well as discuss the marketplace with other contractors.

Many recruitment companies and some clients will post their vacancies via their Twitter account. By simply searching a keyword such as ‘short term contract’, a contractor could see a list of Tweets with that keyword in it and see if they have any relevance to them.

A company may also use Twitter to ask a specific question which you may be able to answer and by interacting with companies, you may find yourself securing your next contract.

We would love to know your views and comments on social networking so please share your experiences using the comment box.

Whilst a number of recruiter agencies have looked favourably on social networking sites and how they can help match a contractor with a client, some are apprehensive and have reported this trend in a fairly down beat manner. Some recruitment agencies are also concerned that this trend may threaten recruitment industry profits.

Stephanie Lee, Sourcing Specialist for European Staffing for Intel Corp UK recently spoke at the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) conference and explained how her company had become an avid user of social networks to help source new candidates. Intel had a reputation for only employing ‘geeks’ and in order to rectify this image, they had developed a ‘social media vision’.

Although large companies may be focusing on using social media rather than using a recruitment agency, recruitment agencies are to using social media to source the right candidate for their client.

At the UK’s second Social Media In Recruitment conference to be held on 22nd April 2010 in London, both Google and LinkedIn have been confirmed as speakers. Mike Taylor from Web Based Recruitment, organisers of the conference is looking forward to another successful conference to help corporate recruiters, recruitment agencies, recruitment advertising agencies, job boards and recruitment industry suppliers get the most from using Social Media in Recruitment.

This latest update on the recruiting trend only confirms what ICS already thought about recruiters increasingly using social networking sites to source contractors, consultants and freelancers to match their clients brief.

Here at Independent Contractor Services (ICS), we firmly believe all contractors, freelancers and consultants should have a professional presence on social networking sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn thus making it easier for a company or a recruitment agency to find you and match your skills with a potential new contract.

Around 43% of clients said what they had seen on social networking sites had caused them not to hire the candidate or contractor. It is important on your profile reflects the truth and so does your CV. The survey reveals the top reason why a contractor has not been hired was because by viewing their profile, they uncovered lies that were on their CV.  Bad-mouthing your previous employer, colleagues or clients is also not advised as 9% of those surveyed stated this as a reason why they chose not to hire a candidate.

Do not be afraid of having a profile on a social networking site though. 50% of clients said they had found content on contractors or clients profile that persuaded them to hire the contractor. It is important to remember that people can view your profile and it therefore important to give off a professional image, clearly demonstrating good communication skills. You should always list any awards or accolades you have. If you use Linked In, connect with past clients or employees and ask them to recommend your work.

It is important to use social networking to your advantage and let it be the reason a client hires you, don’t let your profile lose you your next contract.

John Lyon, Managing Director of Independent Contractor Services was unfamiliar to the social networking phenomenon a few months ago but now has his own Linked In profile as well as his own newly created Twitter page. He finds social networking a great way to communicate with contractors, colleagues and also potential clients.

The readership figures for our blog have continued to increase and we have been pleased to see people engaging in our blog by commenting on our articles. Our Twitter page is updated regularly and we have engaged in relevant groups on Linked In.

The internet is a tool which everyone uses daily, hence to have an online presence and communicate with contractors via this is vital.

To find out more about ICS, visit our website, www.ics.me.uk.