First, there’s the most obvious approach:  You apply direct to an employer.  Look for employers whose fields interest you, whose companies you admire and would want to pursue. Don’t be afraid to visit the company, well dressed and with resume in hand.

Second, use your network. Ask every friend, relative, teacher, former co-worker and casual acquaintance whether they’ve heard of a job opening. Tell them about your job search, this is no time to be bashful.

Third, search the Internet. There are myriad job listing sites, bulletin boards and other places on the Web that provide information and advertise positions. The converse of looking for jobs posted is to post your resume online.

Fourth, consider working for smaller companies. The commercial backbone of this country is the small business, not the giant conglomerates that dominate the news. Most new jobs are created by small, growing companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Fifth, explore temporary work. Aside from the fact that it may provide some much-needed income, temporary jobs can help you acquire experience. Temporary jobs often evolve into permanent opportunities.

Sixth, contact any professional recruiter or executive search firm that you may know that specializes in your skill set.  This is a high-end, high-level option, one that’s more often used if you have a specialized set of skills or advanced career experience. If a recruiter contacts you, always hear them out.

Seventh, check out newspaper classified ads, either print or online.  Only 25 percent of new jobs are found these days through newspaper ads, but they still remain an important place to visit and take the pulse of the local job market.

Finally, Google yourself. What does it say about you to a potential employer? If you do not like your Google portrait, there are services that can help you get positive, professional links posted on the top of the search. Make sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile with a current photo.

The Press Enterprise: Inland hiring should be ‘healthy’ in second quarter

The market for job hunters in Inland Southern California is expected to continue improving as spring turns into summer, a study by one of the country’s largest personnel agencies found.

The report from Manpower released Tuesday, March 11 found that the demand for workers could slacken in the second quarter, but employers who are hiring new workers are expected to outnumber those considering layoffs by a margin of close to three-to-one.

Manpower reported that 19 percent of the employers surveyed in Riverside and San Bernardino counties said they plan to add workers during the second quarter and 7 percent anticipate layoffs. More than two-thirds say they will keep their employment levels constant. The plus-12 hiring-to-layoffs ratio is slightly lower than plus-15 forecast for the first quarter but better than that of 12 months ago.

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UT San Diego’s Jonathan Horn and Roger Showley posed the Question: Will the economy benefit from a drop in labor force participation in the next decade?

My Answer: YES

If employees are working only to get healthcare then they are probably not motivated employees. And they will open up those millions of jobs for people who do want to work and are energized by the experience. There are also long-term advantages for American families when both parents do not have to work merely to get health coverage for their family. If we insist that Americans plan on their retirement through mandatory Social Security then we need to mandate they have healthcare, one way or another.

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What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

San Diego’s job market is still improving, even with the news that three high profile companies are shedding workers, according to a San Diego economist.  Check out KPBS for more!