Beyond Cold Calls: Six Job-Hunting Tactics

Go online: Social networking Web sites have become a routine part of job searching. But most Facebook and LinkedIn users only scratch the surface of those sites' potential. Instead of mindlessly adding acquaintances to your list, search for professional organizations and related groups you could join. These groups might hold events that offer excellent networking opportunities.

Start a blog: Blogs can help you show off your expertise and get your name out to potential employers. Put the link to your blog on your business card and resume, and make sure to post updates frequently. Write about what's going on in your industry or draw on your professional experience to offer readers news and advice. Boost readership by letting people know when you've posted new material, and link to other blogs covering similar topics. Blogs are easy to launch and free to maintain through a number of sites such as Blogger and TypePad.

Look in unusual places: The most unconventional situations can present networking opportunities, says Hal Flantzer, president of Professional Career Recourses, a New York-based career counseling firm. Maybe you'll land a great lead at your child's soccer game or make a professional connection on a weekend hiking trip. Flantzer says one of his clients recently landed a job lead while sitting in a dentist's chair. "Networking can happen anywhere," he says.