PALO ALTO, Calif. -- A handful of new Web sites are taking a different approach to helping job seekers land the jobs they want.

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The sites call themselves social networking companies and link you with the contacts you need to get hired, NBC's Scot Budman reported.

"Here's a job I want, here's who I know in that company, how am I going to get my resume in the right place and get my foot in the door and how am I going to get that interview?" explained Valeri Smye, the co-founder of Tribe.net.

Web sites like Tribe.net, Spoke.com and ZeroDegrees.com let you hook up not only with people you know, but also with people your friends know. The idea is to broaden your social network and deal directly with people who can help you land your next job.

The idea seems to be working. Job seekers are turning to social networking sites by the thousands and finding jobs, Budman reported.

"We are in a favor economy. People have survived the last three years by doing favors for each other. What we forget is that this has gone on for 2,000 years. If people care about each other, they'll help each other," said Jas Dhillon, the chief executive officer of ZeroDegrees.com.

And to make the process even easier, the sites offer their networking services for free, Budman reported.