Sara Carter graduated from Auburn University this week with a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She has been looking for a job in Raleigh, N.C., where her husband plans to work, since April. Nothing has come close to panning out.

Carter thought getting a master’s degree would help her employment outlook. Instead, the current recession has given her a big zip.

“It’s frustrating because I can’t even get the job I had before I started on my master’s,” she said.

Carter’s predicament reflects what many graduates are facing, indeed, what unemployed people everywhere face. It is a tough time to get a job.

Today, successful job seekers are those who are willing to think outside of the box and apply a little elbow grease beyond answering want ads and sending off resumes. The following are some of their most effective resources and strategies.

Take advantage of the Auburn University Career Center. Anyone who is an Auburn student or alumni would be well advised to consult the experts in this office.

“We help with resumes and cover letters,” said Meghan Weir, student employment program advisor. “We conduct mock interviews, and we also teach job search strategies using the Internet.”

Weir also added that they help students locate internships, which often lead to full-time jobs.

“We have two career expos, fall and spring, which can have as many as 150 employers,” she said.

The center publishes a blog, tigersprepare.blogspot.com, with the latest tips that will help everyone seeking employment.

Discover the Alabama Career Center System. This may be the best free resource that people don’t know about. Funded by tax dollars, the facility at 2300 Frederick Road has on-site career counselors who are available for consultation. The web site, joblink.alabama,gov, lists job openings all over the state, along with other helpful information.

“The Alabama Job Link links to everything from job training to employment opportunities,” said Mike Grier, site manager. “We have workshop classes that teach about job searches. We give tips and how-tos and all that. “

Peggy Bridges, assistant site manager, added that they also help with resumes and more.

“We have federal dollars that will help you,” she said. “We help with networking through companies we’ve worked with. There is an on-the job training federally funded program which pays half the salary.”

Do the homework. In applying for a job, those who make the best impression are those who research the company first, and then tailor their resume and cover letter to the job.

“Don’t send out generic marketing tools, but be sure that the skills you’re highlighting relate to the job and employer you’re applying to,” said Weir.

Those who make a bad impression are those who neglect to spell check their resume, or who don’t read job information thoroughly.

Network more. Successful job seekers are those who work at widening their circle of acquaintances, joining clubs and professional associations and being active in the community.

“The main thing we’re pushing is networking,” said Weir. “If you can find a connection through an alumni network, your family or friends, that is the best way to find a job.”

Weir also stressed that meeting others in person is vital, so that prospective employers have a face to put with a name.

Learn to use social networks. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have become the next great thing in job hunting. Dan Schawbel is one of the foremost authorities on using these resources for job searches. He advises that job hopefuls spend 90 percent of their search time working the social networks.

“Twitter has become the ultimate utility to connect directly with recruiters and employees at companies you want to work for,” he said in an article published on mashable.com.

“By conducting Twitter searches, following recruiters on your account and using the “@” sign to communicate with them on occasion, you will start to learn a lot about them and their companies,” he said.

He cautioned seekers to be sure they have a completed profile and a professional looking avatar.

LinkedIn.com, a business-oriented social networking site, has become the mainstay of many recruiters.

“You want to fill out your entire profile,” Schwabel advised. “You’ll also want to get at least one recommendation from a supervisor or friend. Import all your contacts and build your network as much as possible.”

Other suggestions by Schwabel including placing an ad on Facebook (facebook.com/advertising), subscribing to blogs that have job listings, and even starting a blog that highlights personal and professional strengths. (Wordpress.com is a place to start.)

Schwabel also reminds job seekers to link their social networking tools together.

Pursue target companies. In these days when companies don’t advertise openings, those who are getting jobs are those who go after the position they want.

Atlanta resident Teresa Howard found her ideal job when she acted on an article she saw about a professional business trainer in a publication.

“I called him and told him I wanted to work for him,” she said. “He was not hiring but invited me to come to one of his trainings the next week. I came with resume in hand. Two months later he was my boss.”

It may seem importune, but Schwabel advocates that people search for information on employees of businesses they would like to work for, and then build relationships with these employees through social networking.

“Social media has broken down barriers, to a point where you can message someone you aren’t friends with,” said Schwabel.

For searches he recommends Technorati.com, wink.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Advice on “netiquette skills” and how to approach these individuals may be found on the Tigerprepare blog.

Get a foot in the door. Successful employment may often be found on by those willing to humble themselves with a “starter” position and work their way up.

Lindsay Glover graduated from Auburn University with a degree in education. She loved her internship with the Auburn school system, but knew it would be difficult to obtain a position there.

“After I graduated, I used the contacts I made through the internship to get steady work as a substitute,” she said. “Then I used the contacts I made through substituting to get my current job as a teacher assistant, which I hope will lead to a classroom position.”

Communicate character strengths. Employers are looking for integrity, not just skills and knowledge. Those who are hired find ways to stress character strengths in their resume and interviews.

Peter Berry, vice president for operations at Liasion Technologies, has been in a position of hiring for corporate America for many years.

“I feel that an employee with a technical aptitude can be trained for just about any situation. Character is the hardest to change or train,” he said.
Berry looks for responsibility, a work ethic and honesty.

“I’m looking for someone who sees a challenge through to the end,” he said. “A serious work ethic shows up in little things, such as showing up for the interview on time, coming prepared to take notes, or learning something about the company before showing up on our doorstep.”

Transparency is vital.

“I can’t hurt the team by adding someone who isn’t going to play it straight with all of us,” said Berry.

Jack Frederick, principle systems engineer for Raytheon, makes hiring decisions based on the ability to work well with others.

“People skills are valuable more than technical knowledge because that most defines an employee’s long term success,” he said.

Always be professional. Candidates who impress are those who put effort into preparing for an interview, and conduct themselves with thoughtfulness and decorum.

“Regardless of the job, they need to come professionally dressed,” said Stacie Money, owner of Fringe. “They don’t need to come in with shorts and a T-shirt on.”

“Come prepared with some questions about the company, the department, or your role,” advised Berry. “Always enter an interview with confidence, but never with swagger. Try to listen more than you talk. Be interested and try to learn as much as you can about the job.”

Leave a good impression. A few final details can make or break a prospective employee. Interviews should be followed up with a thank you note. References should be contacted to be sure they are willing and prepared. And of utmost importance, a candidate’s Facebook should be cleaned up, along with anything else that may surface if an employer conducts a search.

“I’m going to look at their Facebook, it’s one of the main things I take in to consideration,” said Money.

Back on the job front, Sara Carter doesn’t plan to give up. “You’ve got to put yourself out there, keep trying,” she said.

She has found, like many others, that it’s work to find work. But maybe it’s not so much like banging against a brick wall as it is learning to find the openings in the wall. There are new strategies that work and people who can assist.

“We’re here to help,” said Grier. “If there’s a job possibility for you, we try to find it.”