I could ramble on forever about resume formats, cover letters, your online profile, network building, the value of written communication, great job hunting websites and resources, and on, and on, and on…but – when it comes right down to it, the most exciting part of job hunting these days is the role social media can play in that search. Yes. Everyone needs a network. Yes. Everyone needs to be conscious of their online profile and walk that very thin line between your personal and professional lives. Yes. Everyone has the ability to use social media to their advantage when job hunting. But the truth is, most people don’t know what that means or how to do it.

So what is the key to job hunting success?

The hiring manager.

You see – this is where most people go wrong. They focus on defining what they want in a new job and use the traditional paths of navigating through Human Resources organizations to find a job. Channels like outside recruiters, job boards, blind social media posts (I.e., “I need a job doing X. Anyone know someone who’s hiring?”), following social media job boards, and even job fairs and newspaper ads.

All of this works – but if you want to experience success you need to hear one thing during your conversations. You need to hear, “I AM HIRING.” If you hear those three magical words you know you have a better shot than any of the other people trying those other things. You have a direct line to the hiring manager. You may build rapport, invest time to better understand their challenges, and tailor your communications to their goals. It is the best possible spot a job hunter can find him or herself in.

Those traditional channels of navigating the HR process might get you in front of the hiring managers. But how do you accelerate that process? Or how do you stand out from the other candidates you’re competing against? Find the hiring manager in a more creative fashion and use all the tools available to you to do it more quickly than those other candidates.

If you think of this as a database segmentation project (because all geeks like me do) then you just need to define your hiring manager audience.

• What software would your potential boss want you to use?
• What special skills would your potential boss want you to use?
• What would some of the titles be for your potential boss?
• What size company would your boss work for?
• How large would your team be?
• What industry would your potential boss work in?
• What are the pain points for these potential hiring managers (compliance? resource overload? budget? technology constraints?)

Once you’ve defined the qualities of your new boss it becomes easier. You may use the social medias to find the local events and groups where your prospective manager might participate. You may conduct conversations with those perspective managers because you better understand where they’re coming from and how your background and experience will assist them. You still need to end up in a position that matches your long-term career goals, but focusing your search on the hiring manager will get you there more quickly.

I am not currently in the job market looking for a position, but I was as recently as January 2010. I also have many (more than I can count on one hand) friends and family members in the job market. And, many more who are considering entering the job market as we speak (the mass exodus that will happen when the economy starts to shift as MANY miserable and overworked employees leave at once shocking their employers because they thought everything was A-OK is fodder for another post.)

While talking to them, I get the distinct impression that some people think of social media networking – especially LinkedIn – as a tool you use once you’ve lost or job. And, that it’s just a site you plod along with while you’re working, but don’t really engage all that much. You know – accept the occasional LinkedIn request, sign in to approve it and sign out.

The point I was trying to make with my Tweet exchange with @wileyccoyote (and she totally gets it – she’s a social media rock star with INgage Networks) is that if you wait until you’ve already lost your job then you’re missing the whole point of networking. And – it’s not just about amassing large numbers of contacts and asking them to do things for you. The point of social media networking is to learn from others (none of this is a  big surprise there) but then also to be willing to teach others and ask for help when needed. It’s a quid pro quo situation and for candidates – this means that you are stronger because of your network.

You know – like the Verizon(R)  guy. When a company hires you now, they have additional factors to take into consideration. How well networked are you? If you have a business problem to solve can you reach to your network to help solve that problem quickly? If the company has a need for particular expertise, might you have some contact in your network that could solve that need? Does your network see you as valuable and do they ask for your insight on important issues?

Building these types of relationships takes time and it’s very important. Start engaging with your network NOW! Not because you have to, but because you understand that your network makes you smarter, faster, and better.

It is a very difficult job market and you must be prepared for:

1.) Organizations that have been bootstrapping their workload and are starting to get burnt out. And although they WANT to hire, they are often times waiting on company performance and looser budgets to allow them to hire.

2.) The plethora of feedback you will get from prospective employers (everyone has taken the idea of user generated content and transparency to heart and is sharing WAY more than they used to with candidates!) Be ready to learn from it.

3.) The fact that if you do not know someone in the hiring company or organization – you’ll have to work for it! It is not impossible, but organizations are definitely taking internal referrals very seriously these days. It is an easy way for them to sift through the sea of resumes they get from unknown candidates and move quickly once they have been given a headcount.

In addition, you will likely be in simultaneous talks tracking at different paces with several organizations at once. You need to stay energized about each interaction. It takes some time to determine if the organization is a cultural fit for you, if the organization is interested in you and respects your experience, if the role is active/funded, and if the company is stable and on an upward trajectory. You need to interview them just as they are interviewing you.

Throughout the process it can be hard to remain positive and jazzed about each individual opportunity. Especially if you discover some of them are not what they appeared to be on the surface. If you reach this point, and you may not even mean to do it, some of that dampened spirit could show through to your prospective employers. Perhaps your reflection is portraying your troubled demeanor, your faltering confidence, and your sapped energy level – even if there is a smile on your face!

I have heard many people say, “If you do not like your job, then you need better hobbies.” I think this same insight applies to job hunting. If the job hunting process is getting you down then you need to focus your energy on identifying those one or two things that make you happy and go enjoy them. Immerse yourself in it and let it rejuvenate you. The next time you sit down for an interview maybe your reflection will be portray the confident, dedicated, and happy employee you are.

Give it a chance. This really is a hope-inspiring post.

I have found that the job hunting week goes something like this:

MONDAY - it’s a brand new week. You’ve got some things lined up from the prior week’s work and you’re jazzed to tackle this new adventure. You remember how lucky you are. You are having excellent conversations with many very talented and smart people in your industry. Meetings about web marketing, communities, and the social medias are exciting and participatory discussions these days. It’s not every day that you get 4+ weeks carved out from your job to go learn. Good things await you.

TUESDAY - it’s a working day. Tuesday is one of those days for which you often schedule meetings, interviews, lunches, and networking events. Time flies and Tuesdays go by fast.

WEDNESDAY – it’s the second working day of the week. It flies by just as fast as Tuesday and for the same reasons.

THURSDAY – it just bites. You realize – Holy crabgrass, Batman! – another week has escaped you. You’re still unemployed and while you’ve learned a whole bunch – that doesn’t pay the mortgage. The conversations you’ve been having all week haven’t materialized in any booked meetings for next week and you’re not sure how this is going to play out. Thursday is the day it becomes all too real. You’re frustrated, scared and sad.

FRIDAY - It’s a new day. Yes the week is over, but now you have Saturday and Sunday to step away from job hunting – to take that much needed break. Some meeting or interview or conversation you had earlier in the week somehow pulls through to more work for Tuesday or Wednesday of the next week and you’re off and running again.

So what’s the best way to survive Thursdays, you ask?

Some people sleep through Thursdays. Some people take Thursday off – no job hunting. Some people drink on Thursday and start the weekend early. Some people get sucked in by the emotions and begin the downward spiral into depression.

I say — live Thursdays. I have come to understand that it’s the day that I won’t feel so great. That’s OK. The other days I don’t let myself get down. I keep my positive attitude. On Thursdays, I acknowledge where I am in the process and allow myself to work through all the emotions that go along with my new adventure. Don’t get me wrong, Thursdays bite, but even I know that if only 1 out of 6 days is cruddy, then those are pretty good odds.

Feel what you need to feel on Thursday, go to bed early and be ready for Friday. Friday is a new day.

Many of the candidates brought family with them. Not one family member, but many family members. And they didn’t sit in the lobby and patiently wait for the interview to be over.  They were active participants in the interview process. Sitting in the room with their son, daughter, brother, sister or cousin. Listening to the questions and responses. Nodding their head in agreement or subtly shaking it from side to side if something was said that they didn’t like. At first this threw me for a loop, but as the days progressed I got used to it. It was just how the interview process was handled in India at the time. Companies were chosen by families, as much as companies chose candidates.

I have been job hunting for 4 weeks now. One of the many things I’ve learned during this process, is that I am awful at verbalizing my worth and how I can help a prospective employer. It has reminded me of my trip to India. I know what I’m capable of, I know I can help, I know my background and I know my skills are excellent. But I stink at verbalizing it. I hear other people talk about me. About the work I’ve done. About what I’m capable of — and people seem crystal clear as to how I can contribute after listening to them.

So – for the prospective employers I’m speaking with…I want to work for you. Please talk to my Mom and she’ll tell you why I’m worth hiring.