Ongoing relationships with former coworkers “are the cornerstones of networking,” says Jodi R. R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “They provide resources for questions, industry trends and recommendations. And, should you find yourself looking for work, they are your first line of defense when job seeking.”

Don’t miss out on a great career resource by letting yourself fade away. Consider the following ways to stay connected:

1. Connect while you’re still working together
It’s a lot cheaper to keep an existing customer than to acquire a new one. Likewise, it’s often much easier to maintain an existing professional relationship than to start one from scratch. With that in mind, make it a point to foster good relationships with your colleagues while you’re still working with them.

Granted, not every co-worker is going to be a weekend friend. But you don’t need to be joined-at-the-hip confidants to have a mutually beneficial professional relationship. The goal is to have people remember you fondly when they reflect on working with you way back when.

2. Use social media
No longer merely a dumping ground for random thoughts — though you can still find plenty of that stuff, if that’s your thing — social media sites are a place where professionals connect and share ideas. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are a great way to maintain connections to co-workers past. By friending them, following them or adding them to your network, you ensure that you remain in their sphere of relevancy.

Life coach Jennifer Lee suggests creating a “former co-workers list” on Facebook and using it to stay connected. “I look at my previous co-workers’ posts every day and make sure I comment on their posts as often as possible,” Lee says. “Every week I choose a few to reach out to personally via a Facebook message or phone call. I have received a ton of business and personal referrals from my previous co-workers because I stay ‘top of mind.’ ”

LinkedIn is a great way to track the career triumphs of former co-workers — and spark conversations, said David T. Jones of marketing firm Third Street.

“I always send a note of congratulations when I see an old friend has been promoted or started a new job. These notes have led to conversations and business opportunities,” Jones says.

3. Reach out
You know that person — the one who keeps you on the pay-no-mind list until he needs a favor? Avoid being that person. Don’t just sit silently on someone’s friends list only to chime in when it serves you. Communicate regularly — but don’t overdo it — and be sure that the bulk of your communication has value for the former co-worker. Share some new information, wish them a happy birthday, inquire about the kids, or give them a good laugh.

“If you see something that reminds you of a former co-worker, make an effort to reach out and tell them about it, especially if it’s funny,” says Gillian Casten, founder of fitness reviews site RateYourBurn.com. “If you can show someone you haven’t forgotten about them and make them laugh, it’s a double whammy.”

4. See each other
Communicating in cyberspace is fine, but nothing compares to some good old fashioned face time — and no, not on your iPad. Make attempts to see former co-workers every so often. Attend networking events together, invite some former colleagues to a party you’re hosting, or put together a fantasy football group to keep everyone connected.

5. Lend a hand
Look for ways that you can assist former co-workers — we’re talking about lending a hand in the career realm. But feel free to babysit for them, help them move or assist in applying sunscreen — it’s your call. Helping out needn’t be overly taxing or time-consuming — make an introduction, forward some pertinent information, let them know about job opportunities or send some referral business their way. Let them know that you’re a valuable connection and that you’re looking out for them. They are sure to reciprocate. And if they don’t, focus your energy on others.

By Luke Roney, CareerBliss Editor

Moving in on two years of unemployment, Hadley is willing to try different tactics to see what might work. He has begun to leave off some of his education as well as the fact that he is a published author. “I don’t want to have to omit such things, but I feel as though I don’t even get considered if they are on my résumé,” he laments.

While only time will tell if this strategy works for him, plenty of other job seekers deliberate the same issue. Here, a few perspectives on leaving info off a résumé.

Crafting

Many experts will caution job seekers about even applying for positions for which they are overqualified because of decreased earning potential, boredom and a larger applicant pool (not to mention the bruised ego if one doesn’t land that “crummy” job). For applicants who still decide to give it a shot, “crafting” is often the route of choice.

A good application for any position should be created to match the employer’s needs as closely as possible. Thus, simple (yet truthful) changes can make you a better candidate.

Duncan Mathison, a career consultant and co-author of “Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times are Tough,” recalls a client who felt his master’s degree in psychology might be hindering his chances for a business sales job. “We dropped the degree and replaced it with an ‘Additional Professional Training’ statement that said, ‘More than 500 hours in professional training on topics such as buyer motivation, persuasion and organizational behavior.’ This allowed him to position the value of his psychology training for a sales position without listing the degree. It was truthful, and it worked.”

Similarly, terminology changes such as “manager” becoming “project team leader” may be a better match to a particular job ad. Some job seekers tone down executive-sounding titles, especially if inflated (such as opting for a managerial title rather than showcasing that you were vice president in a company with only five employees).

“I often tell my more experienced and older clients to omit their dates of graduation (if they graduated on schedule rather than mid-career),” says Roy Cohen, a career coach and author of “The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide.” “This frees them up to leave off as many years of experience as necessary, so the application doesn’t feel burdened by the weight of their careers.”

Another option is creating a functional résumé instead of a chronological one. By sorting experiences into skill clusters, there becomes less of an emphasis on the length or extensiveness of past positions.

Beyond the résumé

Candidates are free to present themselves in the way they see most fit (outside of lying, of course). But what happens, say, if an employer asks about items like missing dates?

“First, that’s a good thing because the applicant was invited in for an interview with the company,” Cohen says. “He can always respond, ‘I left it off intentionally. I wanted the attention to be focused entirely on my relevant and very valuable experience. Let me tell you about what I’ve done … ‘”

Some job seekers, however, find it hard to sell themselves.

“I took my MBA off my résumé and tried to dumb myself down, but in the interviews, it got tricky,” says Tiffany Bradshaw of California. “They would ask about certain experience and if I had it, and I felt like I was telling stories/lies to try to cover up the items I had taken off.”

Likewise, employers may feel duped if the applicant who shows up is older than his résumé suggests or if the conversation feels disjointed.

“It’s dangerous to leave relevant experience off a résumé, especially in the legal field,” says Cheryl Heisler, president and founder of Lawternatives, a career-consulting firm for lawyers. “In much of the law, the devil is in the details. If you are perceived as loose or careless about those ‘unimportant little details,’ you can send the exact wrong message to a future employer. Better to ‘spin’ the parts of your background that might make you seem overqualified than to extract them.”

The decision

Like most career decisions, there isn’t an easy answer about what to keep or delete on a résumé. Perhaps reflecting on how to make the document appealing to a prospective employer while still painting a portrait you are comfortable with is key. For when a candidate feels confident about her presentation, it is bound to get noticed.

Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

Some things haven’t changed. It’s still tough out there. There are still many people competing for few opportunities. But with the right tools, you can improve your search, broaden your networking opportunities and align yourself with a career that fits your skills.

Here are 10 tips for a successful job search in 2012:

1. Create a job search strategy. Employers hate receiving applications from candidates who are not qualified for positions. So it’s time to stop using the shotgun approach to your job search. You’re wasting your time, and you’re wasting the recruiter’s time. Carefully read job postings and determine whether you could do a majority of the tasks required if you started tomorrow. A recent CareerBuilder job forecast reported that employers are not finding qualified candidates for their open positions, so learn how to tailor your existing skills to a job’s requirements and spend time preparing better résumés and cover letters instead of just blasting a generic one to every single posting.

2. Define your goals and your brand. It can be challenging to stop and ask yourself, “What do I really want out of a job?” Answers as simple as a paycheck or benefits may be a reality, but the fact is that you do want more out of your job than just cash. Your career needs to satisfy you in more ways than just your pocketbook. By defining what you want out of a job and what you offer up as a job seeker, you become better at applying for jobs that are aligned with your overall career goals. By taking the time to define your brand as a job seeker, you can figure out what your best selling points are and the most valuable skills you have to sell to an employer. Make sure your social media accounts are professional if used as part of your search. And if they aren’t, keep them under lock and key, since more and more employers are screening applicants via social profiles.

3. Diversify your search. While employers still utilize sites like CareerBuilder, many are branching out in multiple ways to connect with job seekers. You should be readily available in each of those channels. Whether it’s through social media or local networking events, utilize today’s technology to further spread the message about your brand. Today’s job search can be summed up in one word: hustle. The more you switch up your efforts, the more opportunities you’ll come across and the more you place yourself ahead of the pack. Also, know your industry and what trends are happening. Manufacturing companies may still have you apply in-person, whereas digital advertising agencies may expect a much more elaborate electronic portfolio available via the Internet.

4. Evaluate your skills and add more. Perhaps your skills aren’t up-to-date with most of the jobs you are seeing in the market, or perhaps they are a little rusty. Brush up on your underutilized skills with online courses or community classes. You could also consider going back to school. Government funding and other programs are available for out-of-work job seekers who want to enroll in training or continue their education to better position themselves in the current workforce.

5. Be unique. You already know that defining your brand can help set you apart from the competition. When an employer asks, “Why should I hire you?” you will already have a list of your best qualities. As you come across jobs that you feel confident about, do something that will help you stand out and be memorable to the recruiter or Human Resources manager. Dig around, and before applying, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who heads up the department the position is in, and contact him directly. Utilize the information on LinkedIn to your benefit. Reach out with a brief introduction, and let him know you’ve applied for the position and you hope to be in touch. After applying, it never hurts to follow up with a company via social media to share your excitement about the position.

6. Proactively listen. Searching for a job can be tedious, and you can get so focused that sometimes it’s easy to forget to listen, research or monitor conversations. Pay attention to how employers are communicating about jobs via social media and through their websites and how you can speak to them in their own language. Connect with other job seekers or career experts, and see what methods you can adopt from their job search strategies. Join Twitter chats and online career fairs to connect with more employers and broaden your network. Just be sure that while you’re out selling your brand, you take the time to listen to how others are finding success in their search.

7. Set goals. The overall goal may be either get a job or get a new one, but when you break that big goal down into smaller goals, you set yourself up for more success and less frustration. When you only look toward that big goal, it can be disheartening when it takes a long time to achieve it. Choose monthly goals like joining professional organizations or volunteering at a nonprofit that will allow you to flex and utilize your skills. When you are able to create a to-do list and hold yourself accountable for achieving these goals, you’ll feel better about yourself. That self-initiation can be shown off in your job search and interviews as a great example of your character. By forcing yourself to focus on small goals, you continue networking with new individuals that can assist you in your job search.

8. Prepare for anything. You can’t always predict when you may get called for an in-person or phone interview, so you should always be ready. You should go into an interview with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. When they want examples of real-life successes or things you’d do different, have them prepared. If you volunteered or taught yourself a new set of skills, be sure to mention this. Rehearse for interviews with mentors or friends so you won’t ‘wing it,’ which can diminish your chances of portraying yourself in the best way. Leave the interviewer with phone numbers of references who will back you up with recommendations.

9. Positive thinking can lead to positive results. Use your career search as a time to see every situation as a learning opportunity. Of course every job hunt will have moments of frustration and hopelessness. But don’t give up on yourself or on the belief that the right job is out there. Use the time to re-evaluate your career path, which could lead you to a more fulfilling career. A positive attitude is also contagious, and the more positive you are, the more likely others will be willing to go out of their way to help you.

10. Stay balanced. Job searching can take a lot out of you. Create a schedule or routine for yourself, so you don’t burn out. Make sure you get plenty of rest, talk to friends and family, stay active and allow yourself those moments to do things you enjoy. Take the time to play a video game, go for a jog or play with your pets — do whatever it takes to get you back to you.

Finding the perfect job is attainable, but you have to put in the work and effort and have faith that you’ll reach your destination. By being proactive, connecting with others and having a can-do attitude, you’ll be able to tackle some of the biggest job search hurdles in 2012.

Justin Thompson is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

1. Santa
For savvy Santas, Christmastime is more than just child’s play. According to Susen Mesco, president of American Events and Promotions, a hardworking Santa with sound business skills can potentially take home $10,000-$20,000 during the holiday season.Marketing and negotiating are among the topics covered by her company’s annual Professional Santa Claus School, an intense five-day seminar for aspiring Kris Kringles. Training also covers such areas as child psychology, makeup application, sign language and acting.

Playing Santa may look easy, but the position can be both physically and emotionally challenging as it requires constant interaction with a large number of children. Mesco has helped everyone from truck drivers to college professors prepare for the role. She says that the best Santas are ones who truly want to do a good job and are willing to go the extra mile, from using curling irons to enhance their beards to scouting toy stores to become more knowledgeable.

Santa rates vary by experience, location and duties. Mall Santas generally earn in the $10-$40 per hour range, while those hired for parties or to model for print work often command considerably more.

2. Santa’s helpers
“A good elf is worth his weight in gold,” says Mesco. While they might not garner the same attention as the man in the red suit, these costumed characters are instrumental to greeting families, keeping lines moving, taking pictures, coordinating activities and handing out gifts. As with Santa, there are variables influencing the going rate, but an experienced Mrs. Clausor other character capable of ensuring a smooth flow can make upward of $25 per hour at private events.

3. Hand packagers
Santa needs plenty of help getting presents Christmas-morning perfect, so manydepartment stores and mall customer service stations hire gift wrappers. Online and mail order companies also beef up their staff this time of year to manually package and wrap items, label cartons, inspect items for defects, attach shipping information and keep records. The mean hourly wage for a hand packer is $10.63.*

4. Delivery-service workers
Delivery-service workers are vital to the transportation of holiday packages. While some seasonal workers drive trucks, many load and unload, handle paperwork or serve as helpers to veteran drivers. The mean hourly wage for this delivery job is $15.45*.

5. Retail salesperson
In addition to established chains needing assistance, niche businesses selling items such as calendars, candy and ornaments spring up in shopping centers during the last few months of the year. The mean hourly wage for a retail salesperson is $12.02*, and many seasonal hires can save big bucks on their own holiday purchases by using their employee discount.

6. Food-service workers
Extra shoppers mean increased traffic at food courts and restaurants. Likewise banquet halls, hotels and catering companies need additional staff to handle holiday parties. Mean hourly wages are $9.99* for waiters and waitresses, $9.93* for food-preparation workers and $8.95* for fast- food workers.

7. Snow removers
As any 12-year-old with a shovel will attest, there is money to be made if you’re willing to brave the after-storm elements. Local and state governments add manpower, some on an on-call basis, to keep roads plowed. The mean hourly wage for highway maintenanceworkers is $17.23*. Shopping centers and other businesses often contract with snow removal companies to keep parking lots and sidewalks clean for holiday customers. Thesegroundskeeping workers bring in a mean hourly wage of $12.23*. And while official statistics don’t exist on enterprising kids (or adults, for that matter) looking to capitalize on Mother Nature, $10-$25 per driveway seems to be the going rate for digging out individual residences.

*According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.

Job seekers, get out your seasonal cookie cutters and hunt down some eggnog, it’s time to prepare for the holidays.

OK, so maybe it’s a little early for the festive cookies and cocktails, but if you plan on looking for work during the holiday season, it’s high time you started preparing.

Although full-time hiring tends to dip in the final quarter of the year, many companies add temporary positions during the holidays, positions which they start hiring for now. Yes, it’s true that many seasonal jobs fall into the retail category, but the holidays are also a busy time for businesses in shipping and warehousing, accounting, travel and hospitality, and the nonprofit sector so job openings in a variety of functions within these industries aren’t uncommon, either.

If you don’t work in an industry that typically needs extra hands during the holidays, consider taking a job outside of your field — it can still be beneficial to your job search.

“A large number of the unemployed have been unemployed for six months or longer,” says Raina Fuentes, office manager at Momentum Specialized Staffing, a recruiting firm in Phoenix, Ariz. “Taking a seasonal position can help lessen the noticeable gap in employment on your résumé. It will also allow you to take a break from the monotony job seekers face these days and help you go into your 2012 job search with a freshened state of mind and outlook on the future.” Plus, seasonal hiring can provide job seekers with valuable networking opportunities and the chance to learn transferable skills.

To help you jumpstart your holiday job search, here’s a look at 15 employers that currently have seasonal openings.

1. Aeropostale
Industry: Retail, fashion
Holiday job openings: 2,000+
Sample job titles: District managers, store managers, assistant managers, retail associates / role models
Location: Nationwide and Canada

2. A.M. Castle & Co.
Industry: Metals distribution/industrial/manufacturing
Holiday job openings: 50+
Sample job titles: Territory manager, inside sales representative, director of strategic sourcing, warehouse operator
Location: Nationwide

3. ANN INC. (Ann Taylor/LOFT)
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 3,000-5,000
Sample job titles: Sales associates
Location: Nationwide

4. APAC Customer Services
Industry: Customer service, telecom
Number of openings: 250
Sample job titles: Customer service representative
Location: Ariz., Iowa, Fla., N.Y., Texas, Wisc.

5. DialAmerica
Industry: Telemarketing
Holiday job openings: 1,000
Sample job titles: Customer service agents, contact center sales agents for health care, financial services and Sirius satellite radio programs, team leaders trainers
Location: Calif., Fla., Ga., Ill., Neb., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Penn., S.C., Tenn., Texas

6. Diamond National Adjusting, LLC
Industry: Adjusting/appraising
Holiday job openings 50
Sample job titles: Insurance adjuster/ appraiser
Location: Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Fla., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., La., Mich., Mo., Neb., Nev., N.M., Ohio, Okla., Texas

7. Helzberg Diamonds
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Retail sales associate, part time kiosk sales
Location: Nationwide

8. Headway Workforce Solutions
Industry: Workforce Solutions
Holiday job openings: 11,000+
Sample job titles: Store sales associates, store managers, assistant store managers, warehouse (distribution), loss prevention, call center, regional area supervisors, and retail corporate level positions.
Location: Nationwide

9. Massage Envy
Industry: Health and wellness
Holiday job openings: 2,500
Sample job titles: Sales associate, massage therapist, esthetician, clinic manager
Location: Nationwide

10. Medcor, Inc.
Industry: Occupational health care, health care
Holiday job openings: 50
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, paramedic, licensed practical nurse, IT developer
Location: Ill., Texas, N.M.

11. The Men’s Wearhouse
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 70+
Sample job titles: Sales consultant, sales manager
Location: Nationwide

12. Rue 21
Industry: Retail
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Retail: District manager, store manager, retail sales associate; Corporate: merchandising, marketing, finance, HR, recruiting
Location: Retail positions nationwide; Corporate positions in Pittsburgh

13. The Salvation Army
Industry: Non-profit
Holiday job openings: 80+
Sample job titles: Store manager, assistant store manager, production associate, retail clerk, cashier, associate counselor, resource development manager, intake coordinator
Locations: Nationwide

14. Sleepy’s, LLC
Industry: Retail, mattresses
Holiday job openings: 100+
Sample job titles: Sales professionals, sales assistants, call center representatives
Location: Conn., Del., Md., Mass., N.C., N.J., N.Y., Penn., R.I., Va.

15. Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween Stores
Industry: Retail
A specific number of openings they expect to fill for the holidays: 20,000
Sample job titles: Costume designer, planning manager, assistant buyer, seasonal store manager, seasonal district sales manager, seasonal sales associates, seasonal assistant manager
Location: Nationwide

Once your resume has made it past the basic screening for requisite skills and qualifications, you’re on to the next round in the screening process. Here are some tips to help you nail the virtual interview.

1. Be yourself

“My number one piece of advice is just be yourself,” says Frank Steele, director of recruiting for FirstGroup America. He says that if you try to fake it, you’ll eventually be found out. “I fully appreciate the pressures of looking for a job. But you’ve got to be yourself and be genuine. I would approach a phone interview like a first date or a speed date. It’s the start of the relationship. During the course of the conversation, I ask myself, do I want to work with this person, do I like them?” Steel conducts a dozen or more phone screens every week with candidates seeking jobs with North America’s largest provider of transportation services.

2. Communicate clearly & concisely

“During the initial phone screen, we’re listening for the communication aspect. For contact center positions, what’s most important is the candidate’s competency on the phone,” says Tyson Bragg, group HR manager for Enterprise Holdings. He oversees the hiring process for the company’s two customer contact centers in St. Louis, Mo., and Eugene, Ore., and for its virtual workforce, who handle customer calls from home. “We are listening to their verbal communication skills, how well they manage their responses to questions and if their answers are succinct and well thought through,” adds Bragg.

3. Have an elevator speech

With an initial phone screen, Steele says you’ve got about three minutes to make an impression. He says many recruiters start with, “Tell me about yourself.” A phone screen is no different from the face-to-face interview when it comes to this question. You need to be prepared. Steel suggests, “Start with the understanding that individuals get hired to either save a company money or make them money. Think about what the company needs and plug in your competencies. You’ve got to talk to the company need, not your need.”

4. Avoid distractions

Bragg says that because they hire a number of team members who will be working virtually from a home office, “You’ve got to be able to manage your surroundings in a phone interview.” He says distractions are commonplace on phone interviews. “Surprisingly, some candidates don’t realize the importance of being able to manage distractions like a barking dog or having the TV on.”

5. Conduct a background check

If you are using a webcam, look behind you. “You need to see what is in the background when you’re using Skype. Test the camera view to make sure the interviewer won’t see your refrigerator full of magnets and school papers or a messy bookshelf,” says executive human resources consultant Mary Pierce, SPHR.

6. Pause before speaking

“Skype is wonderful technology, but there can be a slight delay in the voice transmission. It’s so easy to talk over the interviewer,” warns Pierce. She urges candidates to be patient and careful to pause before responding to a question.

7. Test the technology

Pierce and Trotter both suggest doing a test run to ensure you understand how the web cam and microphone work on your computer. “Test it out with a friend, your career coach or a trusted business associate in a mock interview to get comfortable with how you look and sound,” advises Pierce.

8. Remember: This is not a dress rehearsal

Pierce offers this final piece of advice, “Job candidates need to understand that this is just like a face-to-face interview. You must dress and act as professionally as if you were sitting in the interviewer’s office.”

With Enterprise, there are no dress rehearsals. In the past year, Bragg says Enterprise started doing everything over the phone and ceased doing face-to-face interviews for customer contact positions. When choosing the winning candidate, it comes down to “phone etiquette, communication skills …and resiliency,” concludes Bragg.

For the uninitiated, here’s a brief definition of a video resume. It’s a short video that gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself to potential employers, point out skills and experience and generate face-to-face interviews. The video can be professionally produced or produced at home; it can be posted on some job sites for a charge or the ever-popular YouTube at no cost.
Consider the following, then make a decision on whether a video resume should be part of your job search tactics.
The Benefits of a Video Resume
Set Yourself Apart. Perhaps the most obvious reason to add a video resume to your job search is that it’s a way to distinguish you from the competition. Not many applicants today go through the effort, so having this online resource demonstrates initiative and resourcefulness. This distinction is especially important for professionals in marketing, advertising and sales – industries that demand outstanding communication skills.
Relatively Easy and Cheap to Produce. Got access to a FlipCam or another easy-to-use video digital recording device? Then you can create a video resume quickly and with virtually no out-of-pocket costs. Just remember to dress in professional business attire, prepare your thoughts well in advance, speak clearly, look into the camera, make sure there are no background noises or distractions and above all – keep it short, three minutes maximum. A great rule of thumb is to only communicate information that you would deliver in person. If you’ve got the funds, professionally-produced video resumes could cost $3,000 or more.
Some Employers Want to Click “Play” First. Screening candidates for open positions is time consuming for companies. That’s why a video resume gives the hiring authority the flexibility to view the candidate online, make some judgments on that person’s personality and presence, and determine whether a formal interview is merited.
And, the Potential Pitfalls
You May Bomb as a Video Star. A rambling, poorly-produced video delivered by a sloppily-attired candidate certainly will cause much more harm than good. This is especially true if the message mixes personal information with accomplishments, lacks substance and times out beyond 180 seconds. Like your online digital footprint, a bad video resume may follow you for a long time and be a job search stumbling block.
An Opening for Discrimination. This is especially true for experienced workers. Of course, by law an employer can’t discriminate candidates because of age, as well as gender, ethnicity and physical disability. But realistically, an employer might decide to pass you by just based on the perception that the person in video that he or she viewed is “too old” for the job.
Legal Ramifications. As noted above, your age and other personal characteristics are deemed “protected classes” – factors that cannot be targeted for discrimination and harassment in employment, housing and other areas. Employers may not want to even view a video resume because of the potential for discrimination lawsuits.

Savvy job seekers can use the site to gain all kinds of job search advantages: information on the types of people the company hires, the name of the hiring manager for a particular job (and if they’re really lucky, an email address) and even the ultimate “in,” a personal connection at a company of interest.

But, for every job seeker that expertly navigates the online networking scene, there are plenty of others who fumble their way through it, often over- or underestimating the role the site should play in their job search.

“LinkedIn is a valuable tool, but sometimes when people search for a job they can confuse activity with productivity,” says Tony Beshara, president of Dallas-based placement firm Babich and Associates, and author of the book “Unbeatable Résumés,” for which he surveyed more than 2,000 people on their LinkedIn use. “No matter what activity you’re doing, whether it’s writing your resume or browsing profiles on LinkedIn, if that activity isn’t actually getting you an interview, it’s not as productive as something that would get you an interview.”

If your online networking has been less than productive (read: if it hasn’t actually lead to a connection or interview with an employer of interest), then you might need to revamp your LinkedIn strategy. These guidelines will help ensure the time you spend on the site is most effective.

When reaching out to your contacts:

Don’t be shy
The whole point on LinkedIn is to connect with people, so if you’re hesitant to reach out to a co-worker you haven’t spoken to in a while, don’t be. She’s on the site for the same reason you are — to network with people — so she probably expects the occasional introduction request.

“Interestingly enough, everybody that’s on LinkedIn expects the same thing out of everybody else,” Beshara says. “[The thought is] ‘What I do for you today, you’ll do for me tomorrow.’ People are a lot more open to responding to you because they know that somebody else is going to do the same thing for them, or that you’re going to do the same thing for them the next time.”

Don’t be needy
When you do find someone in your network who has a connection or works for a company you’d like an introduction to, your approach will play a big part in the person’s response.

“Make it known early in the process that you’re not expecting your networking connections to do the hard work for you,” says Diane Crompton, author of the books “Seven Days to Online Networking” and “Find a Job through Social Networking.” “In other words, if you want them to introduce you to a contact at their employer, say something like ‘I’m not expecting you to endorse me for this position or intervene on my behalf.’ This will take the emotional burden off of them should they feel too much ownership in your job search process.”

If your networking contact is new, or someone you don’t know very well, it’s especially important to make it know that you’ll be the most active part of the equation, Crompton says. For example, “Ask if you can use your contact’s name as a door opener to get the conversation going with your desired end recipient. By doing this you’ve taken them off the hot seat in terms of their involvement,” she says.

Take it off line
InMail, LinkedIn’s messaging function, is great for making initial contact with someone. But once that’s done, move the conversation to email or a phone call. Not everyone checks their LinkedIn profile consistently, so communicating this way is often ineffective and slow.

If you’re browsing your connections and find out that someone you know pretty well works at a company or has a connection of interest, you can even skip the InMail message altogether.

For example, says Beshara, “Once you find somebody you know an organization, call them up and say ‘Hey Mary this is Tony, I understand you work with Leroy, and I’d like to get a hold of him. Can you tell me a little bit about him, or what’s going on at your organization?’ That sort of thing.”

When making introduction requests:

Let your contact know it’s coming
If you plan on asking a contact for an introduction and have the person’s email address, send them a “heads up” to let them know it’s coming. Doing so will help you gauge the person’s reception to your request, Crompton says. “[Plus], not everybody is active on LinkedIn everyday and this will ensure that your message doesn’t sit in their LinkedIn Inbox for a long period of time,” she says.

Make a good first impression
Something that not all job seekers realize before they send introduction requests: “When using the ‘Request an Introduction’ function on LinkedIn, you’ll need to create messages to your ‘bridge’ (middle) contact as well as to the end recipient,” Crompton points out. “Keep in mind that both people receive both messages, so if you’re on a casual name basis with the introducer you’ll still need to keep the communication more formal and professional, knowing that your end recipient will also get the message you sent along to the middle connection.”

When researching companies

Find the hiring manager
If you’re interested in a particular job, try finding the hiring manager on LinkedIn. Job descriptions will often include the title of the person the job will report to.

If the position reports to the director of marketing, pull up the company page, and see if you can find the person with this title. If you do find the hiring manager, “it’s absolutely OK to reach out to him or her directly,” Beshara says. If the person’s email address isn’t listed, you can often find the company’s email format online (for example, FirstName.LastName@companyX.com), and you can plug his or her name into this format.

Look at who they hire
Browsing company profiles and looking at the company’s page on the site will not only give you a better idea of whether or not you’re the type of person the company usually hires, but will also clue you in about potential alumni connections you may have missed.

“You can look at employee profiles and find out what kinds of people the company has hired in the past, what companies employees come from, if you went to school with any of them , etc.,” Beshara says.

If you find a common bond between you and someone you’d like to reach out to, “Use the transparency of LinkedIn to assess the best approach for communicating with your end recipient,” Crompton suggests. “Customizing your message by using these commonalities will build rapport and make your initial approach that much more ‘warm.’”

Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer

Little actions have big results

Rich Christiansen, now an entrepreneur and author of “The Zig Zag Principle,” remembers being a “peon” at a start-up company where “everyone was busting their gut to make this little leading-edge technology business work.” As he was leaving one night, he noticed that the office’s floor needed mopping and the place as a whole was pretty filthy. With an important potential investor set to visit the next day, Christiansen decided to come back that night and clean up.

The next day, there was a buzz among the workers as to who had secretly played janitor, and someone eventually figured it out. A vice president offered him a promotion and became a lifelong friend and mentor. Christiansen notes that “by being competent and looking for ways to give and do a little extra, I was able to form a relationship that has been mutually beneficial over the years.”

Skills are often transferable

During her early 20s, Tracy Brisson of New York City participated in Teach for America. While she discovered that K-12 teaching was not her calling, she still values the experience. Today, she owns The Opportunities Project, a recruitment consulting and career coaching business.

“Working with kids teaches you how to communicate, use data (test scores) to meet an end and think on your feet. It gives you stamina, grit and resilience. I couldn’t run a successful business without having learned these skills in the field. When a lesson doesn’t go the way you want in the classroom and you experience failure and disappointment, you learn how to get up the next day and try again because you have no other choice.”

An end can spark a beginning

Trouble finding a job in her field in the early 1990s led advertising graduate Nancy Sipera to various positions, including waitressing and temping. She then got a job at a small printing company — only to be fired a month later for spending too much time with the customers.

“That job changed my life; nothing like anger to motivate you to get moving,” Sipera notes. “I decided to start freelancing on my own and picked up a few graphic design jobs through local advertising.” Today, she owns New Jersey-based First Impressions Advertising and “spends as much time as I like with the customers!”

Figuring out what makes you happy is worth the time

Fresh with a degree in computer science, Laura Allan of Seattle, Wash., “absolutely loved” her first job out of college as a programmer with a large corporation. “In any given day, I might be writing new functionality, fixing bugs, helping the time clerks in the field use the application or presenting training on the application. I also loved that my customers loved me. I was who they came to for help, and I was always there to support them. It was really nice to feel that what I did made a difference to others.”

Not always as happy as her career progressed, Allan went back to school in her late 40s to get a master’s degree in counseling. Today, the psychotherapist and coach sees commonalities between that first job she loved so much and what she does now.

“I have variety in my day. I’m always learning something new and teaching it to my clients. And though I may not be fixing computer program bugs, I get to use similar skills to help my clients uncover what is keeping them stuck in a place they no longer want to be. I’m again in the position of being the place of unconditional support for my clients.”

The ladder is yours for the climbing
While plenty of people switch jobs during their 20s, there also are workers who find their niche and stay in one place. Jason Coleman of Federal Way, Wash., is one such employee, starting as a part-timer for a sporting goods retail chain and working his way up to overseeing multiple stores as district supervisor. He notes that his initial position influenced the rest of his life, not only because it led to his current duties and responsibilities but also because he learned the value of hard work.

“Oftentimes, people encourage you to ‘go the extra mile,’” Coleman says. “I’ve learned firsthand that the extra mile isn’t crowded; not that many people travel it!”

So remember that whether you end up spending two months or two decades at a workplace, chances are the experience will shape you in some way — even if your 20s are history by the time you realize it.

Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.

Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder

Ever since I was young, I have had a piggy bank, a place where I threw my change in to help de-clutter my pockets. Every month I broke into that piggy bank, counted my change in order to buy myself an ice-cream cone, or, if I had waited long enough, I might even have had enough money for a Barbie doll. As I got older, I stopped throwing change into the piggy bank and left it in my pockets because, frankly, I needed all the change I could get, especially in college. I still do today, and so do many workers and job seekers.

If you’ve seen the stock market news in the past few weeks (or even the past couple of years), you know many Americans are in a time of uncertainty about the future of our economy and breaking into that piggy bank is a necessary reality. If you find yourself rationing your pennies and cutting back on expenses, you are not alone. A recent CareerBuilder survey found that almost half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Although the figures are slightly better than this time last year, it is still a reality for many Americans.

Click here for the survey’s infographic.

Let’s look at the numbers:

- 42 percent of workers report that they usually or always live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet

- 46 percent of female workers live paycheck to paycheck compared to 38 percent of their male counterparts

- 14 percent of workers who earn six figures live paycheck to paycheck

Despite having to countdown until every payday, workers simply cannot give up certain items, regardless of their financial worries. When asked what items they could not give up, workers cited access to the Internet, driving and their mobile phones. Waiting to win the lottery might not be the most plausible idea, so I have gathered some basic budgeting tips that will help you track your spending and find ways to cut your costs:

Look at your expenses under a microscope

Although spreadsheets can be tedious work if you’re not a numbers guru, they can make budgeting manageable. List all of your monthly expenses, such as rent, insurance, utilities and then have categories for groceries, gas, going out and shopping. If you are tech-savvy and would rather keep your finances in check on your phone or computer, there are numerous applications and programs that will help you track your finances. And best of all, many of them are free.

Put an amount away, even if it is small

Hard as it may be, start saving. Even if you only have a few dollars to set aside, put away money for short term and long term savings. If you have trouble remembering or fitting savings into your budget, try setting up an automatic deposit into a savings account. Even $2.00 here and $4.00 there can add up over time.

Savings may be right under your nose

Talk to your HR department about how you can make the most of the benefits at your organization. Also, find out if your company offers discounts to stores or for other services, and ask about how you can make sure you’ve selected the right benefits plans for your budget.

Find alternatives to your lifestyle

There are simple ways to cut corners in order to save money. Bring your lunch to work instead of over-spending when going out to restaurants. Bring water in a reusable water bottle instead of using change on soda pop. Ride your bike to work or to the grocery store if possible, that way you can save some pennies on gas. Make your own coffee and bring it work. You may not realize that your $4.00 no whip, easy foam, extra hot mocha from your local café makes a dent in your savings, but it does.

Use coupons and find savings in everyday items

For those of you who have seen “Extreme Couponing,” a new reality show, you may understand the benefits of coupons. If you have not seen it, the premise of the show centers everyday people who save hundreds of dollars at the grocery store and come home with tons of products. Maybe you don’t need to buy 45 bottles of ketchup, but coupons can be a big help when you’re trying to stretch your paycheck. There are plenty of ways to save on groceries, gas and restaurants if you keep an eye out for coupons.

Financial security feels like a luxury in today’s economy, but with a little bit of extra effort and attention to your finances you can take some baby steps to get there. It’s rough right now for both job seekers and workers who feel like more money is going out than coming in, so the best thing you can do right now is know what your finances are and have a plan that works for you.

How are you saving – or at least trying to save – money in today’s economy? Are you living paycheck to paycheck, too?

But keeping employees focused on work both before and after their vacation can be a difficult task. The key is planning ahead. The following tips can help ensure employees not only feel comfortable taking time off from work but also are able to hit the ground running as soon as they return:

Be prepared

Helping employees return from vacation starts before they even leave. You need a plan in place so projects run smoothly while they are away. Start by consulting a calendar and noting the busy periods in your department to determine the best and worst times for employees to take vacations.

Ask your staff to organize their vacation schedules well in advance to avoid workload peaks, explaining that everyone’s assistance is needed during those periods to ensure department objectives are met.

Help identify backups

Many employees wait until the last minute to consider the projects that must be addressed while they are away from the office. It’s difficult to think weeks in advance, but putting off the task can cause assignments to slip through the cracks. This is one area where they need your help.

Meet with team members who have upcoming vacations well in advance of their departure dates. Begin discussing tasks that will need to be accomplished while they are away and identify one or two colleagues who can serve as backups. Have everyone involved begin communicating immediately.

Make sure you remain in the loop so that you are aware of the projects the departing employee is working on and who will cover for the person. This will allow you to help address any challenges that arise, even while your worker is away.

Go slowly

Don’t expect an employee to launch in at high speed the first day or two upon returning. As much as possible, give some leeway to allow the person to settle back into work. This means not planning an important meeting the day the worker returns or having a large project waiting for him or her.

In certain instances, it may even be wise to continue having the person’s backup cover his or her duties until the employee returning from vacation can get back up to speed.

Touch base right away

Schedule a meeting to touch base with the employee soon after his or her return. Also invite the person’s backups so they can provide status updates on projects they oversaw while the person was gone. Then, help your staff member refocus and prioritize his or her efforts so the most important or pressing assignments are completed first.

With the proper planning, you can ensure your staff not only feel comfortable taking time off but also are able to return to work recharged and ready to go.

Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.roberthalf.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roberthalf.