by JQ Adams

Created on: May 11, 2009

If you are like many Americans that are searching for a new job, you're going to have to cast a very wide net when looking for your next position. There are jobs out there, but only by searching the local newspaper or one or two places online will only give you a partial view of the positions available in your area. By searching for potential jobs to apply for through as many methods as possible, you will get a complete view of what's available, allowing you to apply for only the positions that you are best suited for.

Here are many ways that you can identify available jobs that you might be suited for:

Contact Business Associates and Friends in Industry - If you are looking for a job in the same general type of industry that you were working in before, contact anyone you may know at competing businesses or at companies that your previous employer did business with. A quick email or note letting them know that you are seeking employment and would be interested in knowing about any available positions is sufficient. There are actually more professional jobs found this way than through paper or classified ads.

Search Niche Job Sites - If you have identified an industry that you are looking to find a job in, do a quick Google search and determine if there are any industry-specific job search engines for the type of field that you are looking to be employed in. For example, Dice.com is a job-search engine specifically for individuals with technical skills. Another example would be StormWaterJobs.com which is a jobsite specifically for those that work in water management.

Search the Big Three - It doesn't hurt to search Monster.Com, CareerBuilder.com and HotJobs.com either. These are the biggest three jobs sites out there and many larger employers use these sites to post jobs. Quite often, you'll get less information about a position at these sites, but they are often worth exploring. Feel free to post your resume to these sites as well, but be prepared to be contacted by several recruiters wanting you to take jobs that would require you to relocate.

Contact Your State's Labor Department - Every state has some form labor department that helps its citizens find employment. Most states will have employment databases with a listing of jobs that are available in each city or county in your state, as well as what industry they are in. State-run search engines are a great way to find openings with small businesses and jobs that do not require a substantial amount

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