OK. The holidays are over and you still don’t have a job. What can you do differently in the new year to get that job ?? Here are a few suggestions that can help make 2010 THE year.

First, ask friends and family for honest feedback on your resume and cover letter. Is your resume clear enough? Do you have a specific objective that is supported by your background? Does your cover letter make the connection between the job you are applying for and your background? Are your accomplishments quantifiable? Is there enough white space on the paper so a recruiter can easily and quickly see who you are? Is the font a 12 point size? Your resume will get someone’s attention for about 20 seconds and you want to make the most of it.

Next, are your interview skills what they should be? Can you clearly articulate who you are and why you’re the best person for the job? For example, take a few minutes and write out the answer to: Tell me about yourself”. The answer should tell the person who you are in a concise manner and how your background relates to the job at hand and should be no more than 2-3 minutes spoken.

Have you made the most of the social networking sites? Your Linked In profile should be 100% complete, including a professional picture and a minimum of three recommendations. Your Twitter account should list the critical organization you want to follow (ideally your target employers) and your tweets should be professional and include information that people can use. Clean up your facebook account. Employers are looking!

Finally, revisit your job search plan. What activities worked and what didn’t? Are you really making 5 contacts per week to move your search forward? Do you have a goal of 2 face to face meetings per week? What about your daily schedule? Are you making you phone calls between 8:00 and 8:45am? If you are calling someone at 10:00, chances are they are not at their desk.

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