If you're not familiar with Twitter, it's a social networking and microblogging (posting snippets of text) service. Twitter is open ended and people and companies use it to connect in a variety of ways, including to job search and to recruit.

Twitter is a quick and simple way to keep in touch with your contacts and, this is why I'm mentioning it, it can help you get career advice and find a job. Some companies and job boards post job openings on Twitter, and job seekers regularly network through Twitter to help facilitate their job search. In addition, career experts post advice, link to even more advice, and provide job market news.

Here's how Twitter can help job seekers, along with a list of job and career sites you can follow on Twitter. And, for job search information and updates, plus job postings, follow me on Twitter.

More: Become a Job Search Facebook Fan

_{Image Copyright Alison Doyle / Twitter}

Do you need to write a job search letter? Well-written letters can make a big difference in the outcome of your job hunt.

Rather than starting from scratch and trying to figure out what to write, it's helpful to review examples to get ideas for your own letters. Find a letter that fits your circumstances, then edit it so it's personalized.

Here are a variety of letter samples including cover letters, interview thank you letters, reference letters, resignation letters, follow up letters, letters requesting time off from work, letters accepting or rejecting a job offer, letters requesting help from a networking contact, and more of the employment letters you'll need to write when you're job hunting or making connections who can help grow your career.

More: How to Write a Letter | Share Your Letter

_{Image Copyright Alejandro Raymond}

I mentioned the best jobs for this year last week, but now we have another contender to add to the list. A word of warning, there is only one opening, but, you never know - no experience is required, somebody is going to get hired, and even making it to the final round would be a terrific opportunity.

The six-month contract job of Island Caretaker will be based on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. For a salary of AUD $150,000 (about US $104,000), the Island Caretaker will enjoy flexible working hours and the opportunity to explore one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

For six months, the Caretaker will discover and promote what the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef have to offer and report on the experience to Tourism Queensland (the sponsor of the job) headquarters in Brisbane via blogs, a photo diary, video updates, and interviews.

To apply, visit the islandreefjob.com web site. Candidates can apply online. Before you apply, check out the competition and their video applications. You can view the most recent, the most popular, and the most viewed applicants for the job.

The top ten candidates will participate in an interview selection process which will be held on a number of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef in May. So, even making it to the final round would be an adventure. The winner reports for work on July 1, 2009.

More: Best Cool Jobs

_{ImageCopyright Tourism Queensland}

The unemployment claims systems are overloaded and systems in Ohio, New York, and North Carolina crashed this week, while other state systems, which are inundated with claims, are struggling to process claims in a timely manner. Some state unemployment offices have added evening and Saturday hours. Many offices are suggesting that people try and call later in the day, rather than first thing in the morning when you are most likely to get a busy signal.

If you're having difficulty filing a claim, your best bet is trying to file online, rather than by phone. Have all the information you need at hand, so you can file your claim as expeditiously as possible. If you have trouble getting through or issues with your claim, these unemployment questions and answers, will help you navigate the system and get your claim processed.

Collecting extended benefits can also be problematic. Here's more information on the unemployment extension and how to calculate your benefits.

More: Unemployment Benefits | File for Unemployment