Anybody who is actively searching for a job typically makes at least one or two appearances per month at an networking event, which may be called an "in-transition group", a job search group, or a career networking group. However you slice and dice it, becoming an effective networker is the ticket to your success.

During a job search, there are many different kinds of people that you will connect with to help you reach your goals. Some will be welcome additions to your team who will help you rise to the challenge. Others will be uninvited guests who unintentionally sweep trouble into your life and potentially hamper your success. One key to your success will be to learn to differentiate between the Keepers and the Sweepers.

On April 30th, the Economist Magazine published an article entitled "You're Hired—Next Year". In the article, the author describes different methods that companies are employing to hire talent. Some companies are offering deferred start dates to employees, some are marketing benefits of employment differently, and still others are simply delaying their decisions to make offers for a quarter or two. And then there are the temporary and consulting opportunities that are beginning to sweep the nation.

One of the most common questions I receive about headhunters is "How do I find a headhunter when they aren't already hunting me?" The answer, as usual, depends on your persistence, your motivation, and your creativity, which are the same three skills that you need in this job market to land quickly.