People applying for jobs in the technology industry and in IT support may want to consider the benefits of social networking in creating an online representation of themselves, it has been said.

Patrice Barbadette, the founder of employment expert Jobpartners, stated that "now more than ever", people have the chance to really harness technology to their advantage as a means to get work.

She cited websites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, which can be great additions to a CV or digital portfolio as it enhances the skills a person has, as well as understanding of certain things which many small businesses in IT may be demanding.

Ms Barbadette said: "Used correctly, social networks can be quite empowering and be a great forum for candidates to communicate openly about their skills and aspirations, in a way that isn't always possible in formal interviews."

The recommendation comes after a stark warning from the British Chambers of Commerce, which warned that unemployment could hit 3.2 million in the UK by 2010.

In a recent survey of SMEs for Connect, the two most important benefits of outsourcing were guaranteed response times and allowing in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic issues.