Explain your situation, paint a Polaroid picture of your ideal next job or opportunity, and ask for advice and ideas. It's a good idea to write to friends of your spouse, and to fellow association members, too.

Explain your situation, describe your job target in detail, and give salary requirements (optional) and geographic preferences.

They're listed in newspaper classifieds, on-line services (especially the Internet), state job service centers, association periodicals, and on employment TV. The best letter format is to list the job requirements in a column on the left side of the page, then show how you fit in a column on the right side. It's not a bad idea to answer important ads twice, a week apart; be sure to include a note expressing keen interest the second time.

They're listed in the classified section of the Denver Post & Rocky Mountain News, and in The National Business Employment Weekly, published by The Wall Street Journal.

Gale Research publishes The Encyclopedia of Associations and Association Periodicals. To learn who's coming to town, contact your local convention and visitor's bureau, or your chamber of commerce.

Job leads appear in feature articles. Look for what's new, what's changing. See Association Periodicals by Gale Research.

The jobs are where the people are, namely at parties, get-togethers, sporting events, health clubs--anywhere people gather.

Get lists from the 1996 Directories in Print, Contacts Influential, or the National Directory of Mailing Lists.

You might want to read Cold Calling Techniques, by Stephan Schiffman. It makes phoning much easier.

Many are listed in The National Job Hotline Directory. (An annual publication.)

Temporary employment agencies are listed in the yellow pages.

Choose an organization where you might later be hired; little jobs lead to bigger jobs.

Pay attention to radio and television, newspapers and professional journals. Look for change, opportunities, and problems to solve.

Ask, "Are you Accepting Applications for (your specialty)? If so, what is the application process?"

Check "People On the Move" columns in newspapers, magazines, trade journals.

In The National Business Employment Weekly, in the business section of metropolitan dailies, or in any media of your choice: for example, targeted bulletin boards or neighborhood newsletters.

They usually cater to $50,000+ opportunities. The National Business Employment Weekly lists them, and Exec-U-Net is one such service.

Teach in local community colleges, at business meetings, in professional associations--anywhere you will be seen and noticed.

Meet the instructor(s); rub shoulders with fellow attendees.

Dick Bolles explains it best in his annual edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? (Ten Speed Press)

Over the years, participants in outplacement workshops have made some wild suggestions. One that always comes up is, "Read the obituaries--there's bound to be a job vacancy." Everyone in class laughs. It's a not-too-practical idea, and I've never seen it pay off, but you could try it--or any other creative idea you might find.

JobStreet

Job seekers must take greater initiative to establish human networks in their search for a job. Given an employment market where the supply exceeds the demand for labour, companies tend to pay particular attention to candidates who are recommended by people they know or trust.

Rationally, from companies' point of view, good people often know other good people. It is therefore safer and easier to recruit someone who, by words-of-mouth, is believed to be trustworthy, hardworking and committed to his job.

From job seekers' point of view, good people often know about the good jobs. Hence, it is more likely to find a good job through someone they know. A job seeker who has a better networking skill is more likely to meet his career needs within a shorter period. More importantly, there is expectedly less hassle for him in the entire recruiting process.

A network is a group of social and work acquaintances who know who we are, what we want to do, our personality, potentials, limitations, and even our dreams. In short, a network is anyone who might be in a position to assist us in our job search. Identifying our existing network and establishing contacts with them are effective ways to seek for or maintain a rewarding and meaningful career.

Who are the networks around us? Networks can be found in formal professional organizations as well as informal social groups such as

• immediate family members, e.g. parents, brothers, sisters
• extended family members, e.g. in-laws, cousins, uncles
• parents' friends and associates
• neighbours
• schoolmates/classmates/roommates
• lecturers/teachers/mentors
• co-workers/superiors/subordinates
• people from place of worship
• people having the same hobby
• social club members/friends
• sports team members
• fellow volunteers
• incidental acquaintances, e.g. bus stop companions, car-pool companions, shop attendants

How to approach these network? In order for others to offer a job, or arrange for a job interview, you need to tell them what you wish to achieve and when you are available for the job offer. Here are some simple guidelines:

• Start with people whom you feel comfortable to talk to, someone familiar who is helpful, friendly, resourceful, ready to listen and interested to know about your needs.

• Keep a record of the name, telephone number, e-mail or business address of the people you know who work in your area of interests and talk to them.

• Gradually expand the networking to other related professions to increase the chances of getting a job.

• Spread the news to as many people as possible and let them know you are ready for job interview or willing to start work immediately.

• Do not hesitate to seek help even if you have been retrenched. People understand that you should not be blamed given the current economic situation.

• If you feel uncomfortable to ask for a favour from a person, try asking about the nature of his career, instead of vacancies at his workplace.

• Be tactful when you are asking for relevant job information from someone you have not met. Do not mention about job application during the appointment. Write him a thank you card to remind him of your existence.

• Never mention about salary scale if you have not been offered a job. Let the negotiation take place during job interview, not when you are networking with others.