My friend Mark Goldman, owner of MGR Personnel, submitted this to me and gave me permission to share with the San Antonio Jobing community.

The stock market is up about 50% from it’s low earlier this year. You likely have heard that the recession is over on one or more news networks. And yet, unemployment is at the highest it’s been in over 15 years. If you are one of the 9.8% nationally that are unemployed, or one of the fortunate individuals that found a job after a layoff but had to settle for somewhat of a lesser position than you had before, then the recession doesn’t feel quite over for you.

Securing a position in an employment market such as this requires more ‘perfection’ in your approach. Some key items to remember…

Networking. Almost any article you read about a job search will recommend networking. That is because of the simple fact that it works. In a tough job market, it is even more imperative. Simply put, you should let everyone you are acquainted with know that you are on the market and what type of opportunity you are looking for. And in addition, you should work to expand your contacts outside of those people you already know. For friends that you don’t know on a professional level, letting them know that you are looking for a job isn’t enough, you must let them know what you do and what to look out for. Email has made getting your resume out almost effortless. At a minimum you should get your contact information out to as many friends and acquaintances as possible, if not your actual resume. The more people that are aware of your search, the better.

Attitude. The longer your job search takes, the more difficult it can be to maintain a positive, professional, non-desperate attitude. Coupled with this, the truth of hiring is that the factor typically carrying the most weight in the decision as to whether or not you are the candidate that is picked for a particular job is simply the quality of the connection you had with the hiring manager during the screening process. If you come across stressed and frustrated, the interview will be awkward and the connection with the hiring manager will be weak, likely costing you the job. Whatever you do, keep your spirits up. Read positive attitude books and find supportive friends you can talk openly with. If you do not have such a support group, there are local churches that host job seeker groups that assist with advice for job seekers and provide you an environment populated with people in the same career transition situation. It is important to consciously monitor your attitude so that it remains calm and positive. Anything different may cost you the opportunity that you are so diligently working towards.

When searching for a new career opportunity in a difficult economic climate, it takes a high level of mental focus and diligence. As cliché as it sounds though, once you have secured a new position you will likely find yourself in a better position than you were previously sooner than you think. Most people are.

Much success to all in search of their next career opportunity.

Mark Goldman, CPA, is the President/Founder of MGR Personnel, a specialized recruiting firm in San Antonio.