And Network some more! Although you may be one of many who have landed a new job recently as 93,200 jobs were added last month in Canada and unemployment rates dropped sharply to 7.9% even with a steady decline over the previous five months, this is not the time to stop networking. Nor is it recommended that you stop networking at anytime.

Maintaining a network is the most critical component in managing a career and the most successful job search tool available. The resulting success of networking will almost always be related to reciprocation. The give and take balance in any relationship will determine in the long run how successful it is, whether it is between colleagues, partners, employer and employees, siblings or even best friends. Most people will not venture too far out of their way for anyone who has not left them with the impression that they would do the same in return. Always maintain a professional profile online and off to secure a recommendation through networking and never burn bridges even after a termination or layoff. Bad impressions can have a negative impact well into your future and result in many lost opportunities.  

Many people become avid networkers only while they are in need of something, such as a job and as soon as they land the new job, which will likely be acquired as a result of networking, they stop maintaining the relationships that put them there. Yes, it worked this time but how receptive will those same connections be next year or the year after when you need them again? Studies show some discrepancy in the average length of job tenure but suffice to say, lifetime careers are no longer the norm and facing unemployment on a number of occasions throughout your career is inevitable.

For those who struggle with their comfort level in networking, it  should be a much less daunting task and certainly more productive with the advent of social media. Finding individuals or businesses requires a simple search and anyone involved in an executive career will most certainly have a profile on Linkedin. The opportunity of a personal introduction through a close contact allows you to skip the cold call process and at the same time proceed with a level of acceptance associated with that of a mutual acquaintance. The ease of networking and connecting with others makes Linkedin the ultimate blueprint for networking including instructions for completing a professional profile, use of a variety of applications and a location to accept well respected testimonials from colleagues.

Networking is not easy for everyone but there are certainly steps that can be taken to effectively network with a confident demeanour, the most influential component of networking and to present a professional impression. Here are five suggestions:  

• Compose a short and long version of your professional infomercial/elevator speech/introduction and practice it at every opportunity with friends, relatives, and on your own with a mirror and a webcam or video camera!
• Maintain a professional online profile on Linkedin.
• Research suitable networking events and dress for success.
• Always reciprocate! Don’t ever walk away without asking, “What value can I bring to you?”
• Finally, did you exchange business cards?

Networking while currently employed or in career transition is an essential tool for generating opportunities, staying current and successfully obtaining your next appointment within the shortest period of time! Career Management expert, Martin Buckland says, “The day you land your next job is the day to start your next job search.”

As a member of Career Collective we are able to provide you with the following professional advice from other members of the Career Collective, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers:

5 Little Secrets About Networking, @Careersherpa

Networking: Easy as 1, 2 , 3, @WorkWithIllness

How to Take the Intimidation Out of Networking, @heathermundell

Networking for the Shy and Introverted, @KatCareerGal

A tale of two networkers, @DawnBugni

Introvert or Extrovert: Tips for the Job Search No Matter Which ‘Vert’ You Are, @erinkennedycprw

Networking for Job Candidates Who Hate Networking, @heatherhuhman

Networking? Ugh! @resumeservice

Network, Network, Network, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

3 ways to make networking fun for introverts and extroverts, @Keppie_Careers

Grow Your Career Networking Seeds Organically, @ValueIntoWords

Networking: It’s a Way of Life, @WalterAkana

Social Media Networking & Your Career, @GayleHoward

Networking for the Networking-Phobic, @JobHuntOrg

Heating up your job search this summer should be top priority! Of course the cottage is very inviting during the summer season and many will be suspending their job searches to take vacations. The result is a dramatic decline in the number of individuals seeking employment and should you choose to stay in the running, you will have a significant advantage. It is estimated that as many as 70% of job seekers will abandon their job search in the summer months increasing your odds substantially!

Check out these hot tips for a summer job search: 

• Update your online profiles regularly to ensure decision makers are aware of your presence and availability.
• Outdoor events are abundant during the summer months and excellent opportunities to NETWORK!
• A professional resume, business cards and your one page marketing document; be prepared to hand them out.
• No signal for your cell in cottage country? Forward your calls to a land line. Recruiters and HR professionals are rarely limited for potential candidates and a missed call could be a missed opportunity.
• Continue your follow-up calls to decision makers regardless of who is on vacation. Becoming familiar with administrative staff and maintaining your visibility will highlight your eagerness and competitive spirit.
• It’s hot out there but your job interview is almost guaranteed to be in an air conditioned office so don’t lose the tie or jacket. A professional attire does not become an option during the summer months.
• Catch up with more receptive colleagues during the summer months to obtain testimonials. It is very likely they have reduced their workload increasing their availability and willingness during the summer months more so than any other time of year.
• Follow current affairs related to business news closely. You could be the first to introduce yourself to a corporation announcing an expansion within your city.
• Subscribe to online job sites and submit your professional resume whenever and wherever possible. Many potential job candidates could be discovered online but the number available to attend a job interview could be drastically reduced providing a greater probability of being selected despite not being within the top qualifiers.
• Take advantage of the hot summer months, follow hot leads and succeed in a job search with limited competition!

Elite Resumes has been providing successful resume help and job search strategies since 1993. Contact Martin Buckland, Principal, providing executive career management services.

For further information in preparing for your job search review the following professional advice from other members of the Career Collective, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers:

Networking events, research, resumes, cover letters, thank you notes, phone calls, coaching, educational courses,……let’s face it, the time and effort that is necessary to secure a job interview can be at times, overwhelming! The majority of executives today are in career transition for longer than ever so when the opportunity arises for a job interview it is critical to be ready!

Here are ten tips that will help you get ready to get interviewed:

1. Conduct a thorough investigation of the company or organization, current and past employees and the position you have been invited to interview for. Your time may be limited but with the wealth of information available online, it should be manageable.
2. Keep notes on any questions that you may have in case there is an opportunity to bring them up during the interview. Take a copy of your resume as well as it will allow you to be on the same page as the interviewer. If the interviewer is not using your resume as a reference you have the opportunity to leave your copy with them.
3. If the position noted a preferred educational requirement, be prepared to share your desire and ability to achieve the required designation.
4. If you are not completely familiar with the location of the interview, take a test drive. Yes, you can google it but it won’t show the closure of a street due to construction and this is not an appointment you want to be late for.
5. Look in the mirror. If you had planned to get to the hairdresser last week but didn’t get around to it, do it now. Being well groomed, donning professional attire and shined shoes are not options, it is expected. Inspect the suit and shoes you are planning to wear before the day of the interview just in case you forgot about the broken shoe lace or the blouse you just got back from the cleaners has a stain on it!
6. The opportunity for a job interview is likely a result of extensive networking, a professional resume and a significant online profile. Be sure to google your name to be sure of the results as you can be assured the potential employer has done the same.
7. Introduce yourself at reception upon your arrival and confirm the name of the individual who will be interviewing you in case there has been a change and to ensure you have the correct pronunciation of their name.
8. Being prepared and knowledgeable will increase your confidence and comfort level entering into the interview and a firm handshake, eye contact and a smile will ensure the best first impression and set a positive tone for the meeting.
9. Your attention, interest, enthusiasm, knowledge and general preparedness will all be critical factors during your interview. Avoid talking too much which is often a common nervous reaction. By listening closely you will discover the most influential factors in their decision making process.  
10. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time, for answering your questions and if it was a pleasure to meet them, say so. Again, a firm handshake, eye contact and a smile.

Qualifying for the position you are preparing to interview for was established prior to the opportunity for a job interview and although an interview will include some elaboration of skills, it is the impression you leave with the interviewer which will be influenced by your appearance, demeanour and level of confidence that will most strongly impact the success of your job interview. If you believe salary could be a make or break issue seek out available resources to assist you in a successful negotiation including Jack Chapman’s book, “Negotiating Your Salary: How to make a $1000 a minute”.

Get ready to get interviewed and your chances of receiving a firm offer will increase substantially!

Elite Resumes provides exective career management services. Contact us today for a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

For further information in preparing for your job interview review the following professional advice from other members of the Career Collective, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers:

Sit Down and Panic. The Interview is Yours @GayleHoward

How to Stand Out in a Job Interview @heathermundell

Avoid These Reference Mistakes @DawnBugni

Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing Prep: How Your Nonverbal Presentation and Behaviors Impact the Impression You Make @KatCareerGal

Prep for Interviews Now: Snuff out the Elephant in the Room Later! @chandlee

What Should Job Seekers Do Now to Prepare for an Interview @erinkennedycprw

Take a Ride in the Elevator Before You Interview @barbarasafani

Are You Ready for the Elephant in the Room? @WorkWithIllness

“Tell Me About Yourself” (Oh, Yikes!), @KCCareerCoach

The job interview as a shared narrative @WalterAkana

Prepare your references for job search success @Keppie_Careers

No Pain No Gain In Job Search and Interview Prep @ValueIntoWords

Job searching? Take a cue from the Boy Scouts @LaurieBerenson

Preparing for Career Success Starts with Interviewing the Employers @JobHuntOrg

The Interview: A Well Rehearsed Performance or Hacked Improv? @careersherpa

On April Fool’s Day anyone could be planning to fool you but when it comes to your job search who is fooling who? Is it possible that you are fully responsible for fooling yourself?

You have just won $1,000! Not really, April Fools! Just wanted to get this out of the way in the name of tradition on a day filled with good hearted pranks and a hearty laugh when the effort to get others to believe in falsehoods is a success.  

One day of being fooled will not likely have a dramatic impact on your future but the following falsehoods are key points that could seriously impair your job search and you could be fooling yourself:

…if you believe an HR professional or recruiter is going to read your entire resume. The average time spent perusing a resume is less than 30 seconds. With this in mind, do you think you should submit a 4 or 5 page resume?

…if you are expecting to land a job solely by submitting your resume through online job boards. Online job boards represent a small percentage of available jobs and a success rate as low as 3%.

…if you are sitting at home by the phone thinking the recruiters are going to call you back. Recruiters work to fill available positions and they do not assume the responsibility of finding anyone a job.

…if you have allocated three to six months to successfully obtain a job. It is more likely to take twelve months to secure an executive position. An old rule of thumb is to assume one month per each $10,000 in salary.  

…if you believe social media is not for you and you have decided against establishing a Linkedin profile. Most studies show up to 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are using Linkedin to find and verify potential candidates.

…if you are not actively networking with EVERYONE; friends, colleagues, relatives, professionals and attending social events and professional networking events. The most successful job search tool available is networking, surpassing all other job search strategies COMBINED.

…if you accept a job offer and choose not to maintain your network because you don’t need them anymore. Networking is all about  reciprocation so be prepared to give back especially if you are not planning to retire in the next five years, which is the average job tenure.

Finally, you are fooling yourself if you send a resume out and expect to be contacted if you have not included any contact details! Unless of course it is April Fool’s Day and you have intentionally submitted a cleverly drafted resume that profiles a perfect candidate for a high profile position to a recruiter who has been trying to fill it.

Be sure to include your contact details when you send your resume to Elite Resumes for a free resume critique and receive a phone call from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Enjoy this April Fool’s Day and be sure to check out the following professional job search advice from the Career Collective!

10 Ways to Tell if Your Job Search is a Joke, @careerealism
If It’s Not You and It’s Not True, You’re Fooling Yourself, @GayleHoward
Don’t Kid Yourself! (The Person You See in the Mirror is a Good Hire), @chandlee
Avoiding the Most Common Blunder, @jobhuntorg
Are you fooling yourself? Bored at work? Is it your own fault?, @keppie_careers
Hey, Job Seeker — Don’t Be a Fool!, @resumeservice
Job Search Is No Joking Matter,  @careersherpa
Is Your #Career in Recovery or Retreat? (All Joking Aside), @KCCareerCoach
9 Ways You Might Be Fooling Yourself About Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman
Don’t get tricked by these 3 job search blunders, @LaurieBerenson
Trying to hard to be nobody’s fool?,  @WorkWithIllness
It’s not all about you, @DawnBugni
Mirror ‘their’ needs, not ‘your’ wants in #jobsearch, @ValueIntoWords
Stop Fooling Yourself about your Job Hunt: Things you may be doing to sabotage yourself, @erinkennedycprw
Same as it ever was, @walterakana
Don’t be fooled. Avoid these, @kat_hansen
Job Seekers: You Are Fooling Yourself If, @barbarasafani

Any job search can be challenging, emotional, time consuming, stressful and depressing, which is why keeping it positive is the most important asset to achieving success. A job search made positive is necessary to keep you motivated with the strength and determination needed to continue along a career path that can sometimes become a very rocky road. It is a positive mind set during a job search that produces the resilience to continually rise up from a stumble or a fall along the way. A positive outlook will also ensure you never lose sight of your value to a potential employer even when it seems that no one else is recognizing the talents you possess. 

Dale Carnegie said, “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” 

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

Focus on success not failure to stay positive! Here are a few more tips for a job search made positive:

• Go outside every day and take a breath of fresh air. Enjoy nature, the beach, snow covered hills, flowers, trees or decorated shop windows on a city street. A change of scenery can re-energize and keep you feeling positive.
• Volunteer. All studies confirm volunteering produces numerous positive psychological benefits. It is an opportunity to connect with others, gain valuable knowledge and impress a potential employer.
• If you feel that you require emotional or professional support, take action fast. If you feel tired, angry or discouraged give yourself permission to take a break. Stay clear of alcohol or other depressants.
• Consider returning to college or university to develop new skills. Life should be one continuous learning exercise increasing knowledge and boosting self confidence. Further education is also great to show on a resume.
• Celebrate every success, every accomplishment every step of the way. If you have acquired a job interview, celebrate! If you have received a new connection providing the opportunity to apply for a position, celebrate! If you acquired a testimonial or a new certification, celebrate! With each small success you are that much closer to the big celebration of a new job.
• Avoid negative, pessimistic people! It is imperative to surround yourself with positive, supportive, driven and energetic people who strive for success and are willing to provide proactive guidance and support throughout your job search process.
• Network, network, network! Building positive, meaningful relationships with other professionals presents more opportunities resulting in job search success than any other means. Get out there and introduce yourself!
• Engage in inspirational and energetic activities. Join a gym, play a sport or become an active member of your community.
• Ask for support from your closest friends and family. These are the people who know you and can reiterate to you the many exceptional qualities that you possess, providing you with the inspiration needed to pursue your job search through thick and thin and stay positive.
• Be realistic about a job search and the amount of time you will need to invest in your search. Success will not be achieved without a great deal of patience and determination.
• Invest in your personal appearance. A new suit and a visit to the hair salon will help you feel confident, reassured, generate good first impressions and above all keep you feeling positive!  

Finally, SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like smiling, do it anyway. Nothing is more positive than a smile. It will brighten your day and if shared with someone else, will brighten theirs. A simple smile can help you to keep your job search a positive one.

For further information on job search strategies contact Martin Buckland at Elite Resumes, Certified Job Search Trainer, Co-Pilot Executive Coach, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Professional Branding Strategist, Certified Job and Career Transition Coach, Certified Employment Interview Professional.

As a member of Career Collective, I’m pleased to share the following professional job search advice provided by our members:

@GayleHoward, Job Search: When It All Turns Sour
@chandlee, Strategy for Getting “Unstuck” and Feeling Better: Watch Lemonade
@heathermundell, Help for the Job Search Blues
@heatherhuhman, 10 Ways to Turn Your Job Search Frown Upside-Down
@KCCareerCoach, You Can Beat the Job Search Blues: 5 + 3 Tips to Get Re-energized
@WalterAkana, Light at the End of the Tunnel
@LaurieBerenson, 3 Ways to Keep Your Glass Half Full 
@resumeservice, Don’t Sweat the Job Search 
@caereersherpa, Mind Over Matter: Moving Your Job Search Forward  
@WorkWithIllness, Finding Opportunity in Quicksand 
@KatCareerGal, Job Hunting in a Weak Job Market 
@keppie_careers, What to do when your are discouraged with your job 
@DawnBugni, It’s the little things 
@ValueIntoWords, Restoring Your Joy in Job Search 
@BarbaraSafani, Making Job Search Fun (Yeah, That’s Right!) 
@GLHoffman, How to overcome the negativity of the Job Search Blues
@ErinKennedyCPRW, Dancing in the Rain–Kicking the Job Search Blues
@expatcoachmegan, Dealing with Job Serach Stress: Getting to the Source of the Problem
@jobhunt.org, Just SO VERY Discouraged

If you are interested in advancing your career in 2010 your number one task should be a thorough research of emerging career trends. Even if you are not one of the hundreds of thousands of executives who found themselves unexpectedly thrown into a career transition in 2009, you may be influenced by your research to voluntarily consider a career transition in 2010!

Maintaining a successful career is dependent on a healthy, growing industry and acquiring those skills which are in highest demand. Following career trends and positioning yourself in a growing industry will increase the probability of career advancement. The transition into a more secure industry may not be as difficult as you may think as many skills are transferable. A project engineer will have a greater opportunity for career advancement in the aerospace industry than in the automotive industry.

Career trends are influenced by many factors including our environment, social evolution and our economy. Although our economic recession has had a dramatic impact over the past 2 years resulting in unprecedented job losses, it is a temporary influence as many of the hardest hit occupations, architecture and engineering are expected not only to recover but forecasts show continued growth through 2018. This is not the case for production supervisors and managers where the decline in employment, experienced over the past ten years is expected to continue into 2018 as North American manufacturers struggle to survive moving their production overseas to cut labour costs. Environmental concerns combined with new legislation have provided a wealth of “green jobs” and Generation Y are demanding a balanced work/life career influencing change in the workplace. Many companies are providing more flexible work schedules, increased vacation and further training and educational development programs. Canada’s Top 100 Employers is published annually and includes the reasons these companies were selected, providing a valuable glimpse into emerging trends in the workplace that will impact career trends.

Be smart and stay informed. The dramatic increase in our aging population has resulted in thousands of new jobs within the health care industry despite the recession. This is an industry that is expected to see continued growth in  all sectors. The demographics of our aging population, new and emerging markets, predicted skills shortages, recruiting practices, company benefits and industry lay offs all have an impact on career trends. Following these trends will provide you with the knowledge you need to maintain a viable career path and ensure the maximum potential for career advancement and continuing success in your future career. 

For further job search strategies, career coaching or to obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer contact Elite Resumes.

As a member of Career Collective, I’m pleased to share the professional job search advice from the following members:

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search”
@heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search
@barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball
@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign
@kat_hansen, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career
@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut
@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 2010
@DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but
@ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?
@Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference
@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?
@debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year
@walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career
@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger
@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?
@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security
@AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!
@GLHoffman, A Flash of the Blindly Obvious 

Don’t stop your job search during this holiday season but rather, ramp it up! Sharing Season’s Greetings and an active Job Search are a great deal more compatible that you may think.

No other time of year presents as many opportunities to get together with friends and family and even strangers than the many events that are planned throughout the month of December in the spirit of sharing season’s greetings. This is your chance to accept every available invitation and while sharing in the celebrations, network, network, network! No job search tool is as effective or as successful as networking!

For many who are not at ease with networking, this time of year presents a perfect opportunity. As the holiday season unfolds it generates a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Most people are more receptive, friendlier and many are more apt to share a truly, genuine smile. This is the time of year that transitions even the most unreceptive and stoic of individuals into those filled with camaraderie and joy. It is a time for giving and caring and sharing. So share the story of your job search and reap the benefits of a new contact or a new lead but be sure to keep in the spirit of the holidays and that of networking by asking what it is that you can do to help in return.

You probably haven’t seen your cousin since this time last year and if you didn’t share information about your job search including your interest in a specific company, you would never have discovered that his neighbour is not only the CEO but a close friend! The fact that you are able to offer your mechanical expertise to help your cousin get his recently acquired, antique vehicle on the road is surely what networking and the holidays are all about.

After a month of celebrating and networking, your New Year’s resolutions should come easily:

• Follow up on contacts and leads
• Acquire your dream job
• Give back

Season’s greetings to all! And to all, the very best of luck in your job search! For further job search strategies or to obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer contact Elite Resumes.

As a member of Career Collective, I’m pleased to provide you with further professional job seach advice from the following members: 

Heather Mundell: Have a Holly Jolly Job Search
Erin Kennedy: How to keep up the Job Hunt during the Holidays 
Hannah Morgan: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Cheers
Gayle Howard: It’s Christmas: And a ho-ho-ho-hum?
Laurie Berenson: Three Resolutions to Take It Up a Notch 
Dawn Bugni: Could that sound really be opportunity? During the Holidays? 
GL Hoffman:What Would Dad Say,Merry Christmas! Can I Buy You Coffee to Talk About Me?
Heather R. Huhman: 4 Tips for Making the Most of Holiday Job Hunting
Chandlee Bryan: Job Search Tips for the Holidays
KCCareerCoach: The Gift Every Laid Off Job Seeker Needs
resumeservice: Holiday Resume Sparkle: Outshine the New Year Job-Search Mob
careerealism: Holiday Tip for Job Seekers: 4 Ways to Impress Others with Your Professionalism
KatCareerGal:  Avoiding the Holiday Blues in Your Job Search
sweetcareers:Holiday Job Search Tips for College Students 2009
WorkWithIllness: Avoid this Minefield: No Holiday Here!
andyinnaples: Shift Your Focus to the Highest Impact Job Search Activities During the Holidays to Leverage Your Time
keppie_careers: Four tips for effective networking follow-up for the holidays and the rest of the year
expatcoachmegan: Holidays are a Great Time to Nurture and Grow your Network
ValueIntoWords: Navigating the Mistle Toe of Job Search

The key to securing your future career in today’s economy is already a common practice for many. But for those of you who may be facing a career transition for the first time in many years this will be a change in your job search strategy that is as significant as the changes we have experienced in our economy.

Although changes in the economy are a part of life, the economic turmoil experienced over the past year has had more of an impact on the future of careers than we have seen in a lifetime. Unemployment rates have reached levels not seen since the Great Depression. Bankruptcies and foreclosures have reached unprecedented levels. Long established industries are floundering, manufacturing opportunities are at record lows and the health care industry is now thriving.

Not as sudden but equally significant in impacting the future of careers are the changes we have seen over time. Less than a generation ago, a 30 year career with one company was not uncommon. Today, it is unheard of and has evolved into an average tenure of 2.3 years! “Job security” has become an obsolete term and an unattainable goal. An executive job search which was expected to take weeks is now expected to take months! The average search today is 10 months. Worldwide use of the Internet at the end of 1995 was 16 million. Today there are 1,669 million Internet users worldwide which is fuelling the growth of social media at a rate far surpassing that of newspapers, radio and television. 

The overall impact on the job market is one of fierce competition. Yesterday’s job search strategies will not help you with your future career. In order to secure your future in today’s highly competitive job market it is imperative that you establish the following:

1. A professional email address, required for the majority of correspondence and mandatory when submitting your resume online. Professional is BarbaraMackie@rogers.com NOT babs@hotmail.com!   
2. A Linkedin profile, which will generate an address that must be included in your contact information on your resume. This will be one of many online profiles required for professional networking and to gain you an online presence necessary as hiring professionals are searching for and validating candidates online.
3. A Personal Brand. Your personal brand must be established and maintained throughout your career. Who are you? Who is it that others see? Are you acknowledged as an expert in your field?  
4. Self Confidence! If you intend to successfully sell yourself to others and stand out from the competition, you must shine with confidence, an attribute even more valuable than knowledge! If you have confidence in yourself, the hiring professional will also feel confident in supporting you as a viable candidate.

A bold and professional presence established through online and offline networking is the most critical component in your job search today and the key to securing your future career.

Contact Elite Resumes for more job search strategies from a Certified Job Search Trainer and Job and Career Transition Coach.

As a member of Career Collective, I’m pleased to provide you with further professional job seach advice from the following members: 

Meg Montford: Job Action Day: Finding Your “MOJO” After Layoff
Debra Wheatman: Plan B from outer space; or what do you have in case your first plan doesn’t work out?
Heather Mundell: Green Jobs – What They Are and How to Find Them
Erin Kennedy: Cutting Edge Job Search Blueprint
Grace Kutney: Securing Your Career While Navigating the Winds of Change
Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa– Why Our Job Search Advice is the Same but Different
Gayle Howard: The Enlightened Jobseeker
Laurie Berenson: Making lemonade out of lemons: Turn unemployment into entrepreneurship
Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter: You Can Thrive In, Not Just Survive, an Economic Slogging
Rosalind Joffe: It’s Not Just for Boyscouts
Rosa E. Vargas: Are You Evolving Into The In-Demand Professional of Tomorrow?
Dawn Bugni: Your network IS your net worth
Miriam Salpeter: Optimize your job hunt for today’s economy
GL Hoffman: The Life of An Entrepreneur: Is It for You?
Katharine Hansen: : Job Action Day 09: His Resume Savvy Helped New Career Rise from Layoff Ashes
Barvara Safani: Where the Jobs Are: 2009 and Beyond
Heather R. Huhman: Take Action: Ten Steps for Landing an Entry-Level Job
J.T. O’Donnell: Actions that got people jobs in this recession
Chandlee Bryan: Where the Green Jobs Are