NAPLES, Fla. - If you put some effort into it, you can find a job in this tough economy. That's the message many young professionals in Southwest Florida are sending out.

More than 400 young professionals from the Naples area gathered at the Naples Grande Resort tonight. No, this isn't just a cocktail party, its the next generation of professional networking.

"If you're out of a job or you're looking to find a job, this is the best way to do it," Young Professionals of Naples Social Network Director Joe-Jo Jennings says.

With the current job market the Young Professionals of Naples say their group is growing.

"There's a lot of people looking for jobs out there right now, and this is the perfect way to get them all together in the same room and talk about it and hopefully find a job," Alex Freeland explains.

"I'm looking for a job right now, great I'm looking to hire somebody. There's job opportunities out there right now in Southwest Florida," Patrick Dearborn adds.

He says the key is being proactive.

"Critical. You have to get out and make things happen," Dearborn says.
While many are finding opportunities though organizations like the Young Professionals and Catch the Buzz, many others are turning to the internet.

"Everybody's using Facebook, using Linked In. They're trying to get their name out there and get their voice heard," Freeland says.

Linked In is a web-site devoted to professionals. According to the site, it has more than 30 million members worldwide, with a new member joining every two seconds.

Here's how it works. Go to www.linkedin.com, sign up, then enter information about your education and work experience. After your profile is complete, the site will help you find people you may know from work or school. From there, you can send requests to connect with many others.

Whether its networking online or in person, these young professionals say you have to be pro-active in this economy.