If you find yourself in the job market, you know how overwhelming it can seem. The secret is - a sound work search strategy, consistently applied - works. Using the best new online and traditional resources will shorten your search. Endlessly trolling the large online job boards to the exclusion of other effective methods is not a sound search strategy.

[Excerpted from "Your Work Search Companion: A Toolkit for Finding Your Best Place to Work,” by Marty Silberstein]

While the work search is definitely a process, it is also a project with a beginning and an end. Between these points is a critical path, the sequence of activities designed to enable you to reach your goal in the shortest time.

Your watchwords are Explore, Discover, Focus, Target.

* Explore your skills, talents, preferences, and the organizations that might be workable for you. Establish your strategy and the tasks that will help you work your plan. Identify several companies. Research them. You will find greater focus as you go through this process. Target those companies that are attractive to you.

* Use multiple methods in your work search — networking, exploring Internet job boards and online research sources, attending professional association meetings (and joining where helpful), registering with recruiters, and approaching employers directly. Recruiting has changed with the new technologies. Take full advantage of powerful Internet tools, including social networking (including LinkedIn), RSS news feeds, email alerts, electronic newsletters, blogs and online groups.

* Approaching employers directly, either through referrals or direct solicitation, nets a far better return than just replying to advertised job listings alone.

* Learn to source and research potential employers, but take care not to become a professional student of online job boards. Take action based on your research to keep moving forward. Small steps are okay!

Persist. Stay the course. Be open to serendipity. Do your part every day. The work search well done is the best investment you can make in yourself. You’ll richly harvest the rewards when you find that special opportunity that allows you to grow and prosper. We wish you every success!

Today’s question

What are the work search strategies that work best for you?