Hot tips to help you find job openings in 2009

I am not a head hunter nor do I work in job placement. But I've had quite a few jobs in my career so I do know a bit about the process finding job openings.

My son, Toby Cryns, has a great website development job in Minneapolis. Toby told me he obtained that job because he happened to be acquainted with someone who works at the company. This contact put in the good word for Toby. After a couple of interviews he was hired.

Toby is a master networker. He does it naturally without thinking about it. He loves to chat with intelligent and exciting people. Those are the people you need to help you find a job.

I think you will need to do a hurricane of networking to find a good job in 2009. Leave no stone unturned in your search. Do the things other people find too awful to do, like visiting businesses without calling first to make an appointment.

Put much less value on your resume than on your ability to make a valuable contact through networking and then somehow, some way, by hook or by crook, get in front of the decision maker wearing your best Sunday suit. Rev yourself up. Get that job. Be positive. Be special.

Once you get the ball rolling, and you will eventually, learn as much about the company as you can. Interviewers can be very impressed by people who know some little facts about their organization. Trust me, they do. They also appreciate people who shine. That is, people who have IT are impressive. What is IT? You know it when you have IT.

So, I would tell you to think way outside of the box for now. If you think a well constructed resume will get you a job by itself, I think you need an immediate course correction.

That is not to say that a resume is not important. You will need one sooner or later so spend some time and maybe some money to create the best and brightest resume you possible. A head hunter said that it takes only 7 seconds to decide if the person behind the resume is worth a phone call. He looks first for reasons to avoid calling the job prospect.

If I was desperate for a good job (or even not so good) I would hit the streets, baby. That means I would work out a map and walk into businesses unannounced. Be bold and be respectful.

Have your own business card printed up. You can get a bunch of them online for about $7.00. Put together a blog or website where you can send people to see your resume. Make them shine.

Here are some good links I found to help you land a job:

Check out Twitter's job search every day - this is a very cool tool for getting job offers and up to date news and tips

Making acquaintances on Twitter can be a great way to find a job

Hiring managers use Facebook too!

Top 3 Social Media Tips for Job Seekers

Advice and guides

Eight Tips for Job Hunting During the Recession

To KEEP your current job: How to keep your job during a recession

Frankly, I am glad I am not in your shoes. Your task is difficult but you can make it happen.

I am not going to tell you to try to earn your living on the Internet. I think your chances are better in real life no matter what you hear or read on the Internet or on those hokey TV commercial about working from home.

Be your own best friend.

Greg Cryns
20000 Credit Card Debt