Referrals come from people that have taken the time to help you. Holding connecting meetings with employees of target companies or members of associations can be a great way to get the attention of someone who would rather not go through the traditional process of finding a new hire. The Internet moves even faster. When a job seeker receives an email as a result of a submitted resume there needs to be a timely response. Perceptions online are far less forgiving than they are offline.
People demand instantaneous results.
Critical care needs to be taken in the format and protocol of email. If you are an active user of the Internet it may be wise to set up an email address specifically for use in the job search. This will avoid messages getting caught up in the clutter of other online activity. When opportunities present themselves for email contact with a hiring manager, be certain to include and invite offline contact information. It is easy to get overwhelmed and out of control in a point and click environment.