Oh LinkedIn, how I love thee. Let me count the ways...connections, resume building, groups, and so on and so forth. LinkedIn truly is a great resource for any job-seeker. When asked what network I think is most crucial when commencing your job search online, LinkedIn is the clear winner every time.

It can help you both build out your own brand while also researching potential companies, employers, and job openings. There are a number of ways to use LInkedIn, but one often overlooked function is the Groups tab, which enables any job board, group of people, or individual to start a group for any given cause.

Now I know, I know...the Groups function has a bad rap. The truth is too many people and brands have abused the Groups function and instead of quality connections you end up with spammy daily emails and annoying messages in your inbox. However there are a number of great Groups worth joining when loking for a job on LinkedIn. I have put together the top 5 Groups I think every job-seeker should join.

All of these groups have a number of members, some looking for a job, and some looking to help people land one. So get going! Jump right in...what are you waiting for?

1. JobAngels

This group spun off of the popular Twitter phenomenon, where anyone can follow @jobangels and post a job that needs to be filled or a job they are looking for. Mark Stelzner is the brain behind this and has helped hundreds of people land a job through the simple, and sincere desire…to help someone who needs it. It’s a great group for networking and for being someone’s “angel.” How can you beat that?

Owner: Mark Stelzner | 5,216 members | Join this group »

2. Linked:JobSeekers USA

The official LinkedIn Group for job-seekers, aims to help anyone looking for a job to connect with their future employer. The group members are a mix of job-seekers and recruiters, it boosts to have the largest recruiter pool of any LinkedIn group, enabling any person who joins to be seen by thousands of active recruiters. Just beware, if you don’t want your current company to know you are looking for a job, uncheck the “show logo on my profile” box before joining.

Owner: Jean-Marie Slove | 3,309 members | Join this group »

3. Looking for a job?

This is a group where people who are currently looking for work, thinking about a career change, wanting to find staff or ask advice can come. The group is designed to allow people to share ideas, network, post jobs, advise on job market and ultimately help people find work. This group is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about the job search process rather than just search hundreds of job boards with no luck.

Owner: Dave Howard | 1,811 members | Join this group »

4. TalentBar: HR and Recruiter Network

This group is great for exposure to thousands of consulting recruiters as well as agencies. With over 60,000 members you will most certainly get your profile into the right hands, just be sure you have it fine-tuned and ready for review! This group is also very active in new article postings, so be sure to supplement your RSS feed with their daily or weekly digests.

Owner: Miles Jennings | 62,207 members | Join this group »

5. Job Search Online

Of course I couldn’t put the list together without mentioning TheOnlineBeat’s LInkedIn Group. Although it’s a newbie to the LinkedIn Group arena, it’s definitely gaining traction. We focus on posting articles and news stories that help people utilize the many tools, platforms and networks available to you, when searching for a job. This group is all about sharing what has worked for you in the past with others in the same situation. Come join the conversation…

Owner: Joanna Lord | 335 members | Join this group »

Although these five groups have tons to offer, I also suggest searching the Groups tab for any groups related to your specific industry. Almost every industry has a group up and running to help job-seekers negotiate a new job. Are you a member or owner of a great job search group? Leave in the comments below and share with other readers!

Good luck & Happy Job Searching!