You’ve just been laid off or your position was eliminated.  Now you need to know how to search for a job smartly.  Remember, time is money and who can really live on unemployment, right?  It’s a tough market out there and using some simple tools, you can move through the transition phase much more quickly.

First, review and update your resume.  It’s always a good idea to keep your resume up to date because opportunities present themselves all the time.  Make sure your resume has no spelling or grammar errors, is neat and concise and clearly and honestly describes your experience.  Nothing will hinder your successful job search more than “padding” your resume.  Employers currently have a wealth of candidates to choose from, so lying will rule you out immediately.

Second, utilize social networking sites like LinkedIn and facebook.  This is a growing trend for job seekers and employers.  LinkedIn has job boards for various industries and many positions listed are exclusive to that site.  When searching for a job smartly, something to remember is people will hire people they like and who others like.  This is important when using social networking sites for your job search.

Make sure you don’t put anything on your facebook page that you wouldn’t want your mother to see.  If using LinkedIn, make sure you invite people to your network that will be willing to write you recommendations.  You never know who is hiring.  The best jobs are those not found on job sites.  Be smart, network.