by Eve Lopez

Created on: August 20, 2009

Finding your next job is not likely to be easy. The best way to get your next job is to simply utilize every single method of job-hunting there is. Finding a job today is not the same game as it was even a year ago. Today's job seeker must be internet-savvy, be able to network, and be able to market themselves as the best candidate for the job.

The key is to get creative while still utilizing tried-and-true methods. There are many different ways people can get help with finding jobs. There is no single method that is guaranteed to work for everyone, so by implementing several strategies, you'll be more likely to get the job you want.

Social media: Set up profiles on LinkedIn.com and Facebook.com, complete with your resume and job history. Let all your contacts know you are in the job market. LinkedIn, in particular, is a good way to reconnect with former colleagues, and the site also has job listings available. Some people have success using Twitter, where recruiters regularly post job openings using the hashtag #jobs. Heard about Twitter but don't know what it is? Sign up for an account at Twitter.com, then use the search function and search.twtitter.com. Search for #jobs and #yourcity and watch the opportunities pop up on the screen.

Alma maters: Contact your school's alumni division to see if there are programs that assist graduates and alumni find jobs. There may be special job lists or workshops for career-seekers.

Government: The federal, state and local governments have job-assistance programs to dislocated or laid-off workers. Visit your city website, your country website, your state website and USA.gov to see what retraining or job finding assistance might be available.

Self-promotion: Set up your own website with your resume, biography, job history and picture. Get business cards with the URL printed on them. Make sure to place your URL in the signature of your email account, so every email you send out has your Web address. The point of this is to get your resume into as many hands as possible. Never leave your home without your business card: give it to everyone you can think of. There is no shame in asking for help in today's economy.

Career sites: Don't overlook those tried-and-true job sites: Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com, HotJobs.Yahoo.com and FlipDog.com are all job sites that every job seeker should visit.

Newspapers: This is especially helpful in rural areas, but there may actually be old-school employers who advertise jobs in the newspaper. While this method of hiring has mostly gone the way of the Walkman along with all print media, it's important to cover all your bases in job hunting.

Job fairs: Job fairs for professionals are typically held at schools and civic centers. They are always advertised online. Sign up for a job seeking newsgroup or newsletter in your area to get notified beforehand when a job fair is going to occur in your city. Always bring several copies of your business card and resume when going to job fairs, because many employers have interviews on the spot with job seekers. While these job fairs might not necessarily be where you land your next job, you will meet people in your field as well as other job seekers who can be networked with.

While it may at times seem hopeless, never give up. Your job search may take you to a new place, doing something totally different than before.

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