Job Hunting in Today's Market

Job hunting in today's very competitive market can be a tricky business. Whether you're changing jobs, fresh from school or finding your way back into the workforce after some period of hiatus, you will need tips to see you through the job hunting process.

So where does a job hunter begin? Before anything else, Google yourself. Act like a narcissistic celebrity and find out what Google thinks of you. Now this idea is not as preposterous as some people might think it is. In the era of Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, LinkedIn and so on and on, employers recognize the fact that a lot of people reveal more of themselves on social media sites than to their next-door neighbors. Looking into these sites is the next logical step a potential employer may do. Like never before, online reputation is crucial as it can make or break a person's chances of landing the job of his dreams.

If Google thinks you're squeaky clean, meaning, your online reputation puts you in a good light, employ strategies to keep it that way and control the personal information you provide to social networking sites. If Google thinks otherwise, make some changes.

Cover the job hunting basics. This apparently is common sense stuff, but as in all of life's respects, the easy stuff is what tends to get overlooked. Set up a professional e-mail address if you don't have one already. By professional, I mean NOT something that ends in hotmail.com or aol.com. Are you applying from a time machine? The only emails I get from AOL or Hotmail are forwarded urban myths from people over 65. Remember, how your resume looks is as important as the information contained in it. Give the impression you up to date with the latest technologies, even if you are not.

Proactively look for jobs. The Internet has changed the way information is disseminated forever. More than print newspapers, job hunters flock to the Internet through online search engines, job listings from Craigslist, Careerbuilder, HotJobs and so many others. Friends, religious affiliations, alumni associations, career sites, social media networks, websites of companies you admire are all a wealth of information when it comes to finding jobs related to your chosen field. So go out there, make your presence known and spread the word that you're out on the hunt.

Always employ a positive attitude. You will not always hit the nail on the head the first time. But at the end of the day, your attitude will determine what becomes of your efforts. As the saying goes, positive and negative are nothing but directions. Which direction you take is entirely up to you.