The economic climate and unemployment rate remains stubbornly sour. There are six candidates for every one job. But, guess what? Despite the challenging economy, cautious recruiters and skittish hiring managers, the business world is humming along like it always has. Money is being made, products are being sold, business deals are being made and innovative disruptive startups are the talk of Silicon Valley. There are job prospects and job opportunities galore out there for the determined go-getter. You need to know where to look and how to look for employment. And you need to realize that risk-averse employers will only invest in top talent who can demonstrate how they can impact the bottom line and produce immediate business results.

1. Show Self Confidence in Your Jobs Search

“Success comes in cans, not cant's.” Stay positive. A jobs search, even under the best of times can be frustrating, but giving in to negativity can damage your job prospects. Don’t allow the challenging employment landscape to chip away at your self-esteem. Employers expect today’s job seekers to not only display a quiet but assured self-confidence, but to wow hiring managers with their knowledge of the company and to present concrete examples of how they can deliver a Return on Investment. You must set yourself apart from the pack by showing employers how you can contribute to the company’s value stream. Once you understand what’s expected of you, the 21st century jobs search won’t appear so daunting.

2. Search for Job Opportunities on Niche Job Sites

You can no longer bombard job boards with hundreds of generic resumes and wait to be contacted. Today’s global economy and jobs environment is compartmentalized and specialized like never before. Recruiting firms and hiring managers know this, and are shying away from posting jobs on major job boards. Why? Because employers don’t have the time or the resources to weed through hundreds of resumes to uncover the precious few that demonstrate the specific qualifications and skills that match up with the job description. Instead, hiring managers and recruiters are posting jobs on niche sites, such as www.ShinyNeedle.com to target applicants who are uniquely qualified and who have demonstrated a keen interest in the industry.

3. Become an Industry Thought Leader to Maximize Your Job Prospects

Today’s professionals need to create and carefully nurture a personal online brand. To prove that you can add immediate value to the company’s bottom line, you need to convince an employer that you already possess valuable industry knowledge and are ready to go right out of the gate. How? By establishing yourself as an industry thought leader via a professional blog and the calculated use of social media channels. Leverage your Twitter feeds, LinkedIn activity and professional commentary on industry sites to your best advantage. Establishing a solid professional online brand takes work and dedication, but the payoff is well worth it. Employers and recruiters will come to you like bees to honey. Responding to unsolicited inquires greatly improves your negotiating position from the get-go and increases your chances of landing a job.

4. Create a Digital Resume for Best Job Results

A traditional one or two-page resume listing your employment history, educational background and special skills is no longer sufficient. Hiring managers and recruiting professionals devote just a few seconds to a first read through of a resume. Unless it’s immediately apparent how your skills and qualifications match up to the job, your resume will likely not warrant a second read. You need to make the process easy for employers. Make sure your resume and cover letter clearly demonstrates how your skill set and background are a perfect fit for the job.

Better yet, make it easier still, by creating an easily accessible digital resume. With one click, employers can view your resume or CV in a convenient digital format that dazzles with media-rich content. You can create your own digital resume and attach it to your blog, or use the services of a site such as VisualCV, which simplifies the process.

5. Create a Video Resume to Highlight Your Skills and Talent

Try producing a short, to-the-point YouTube video that highlights a few selected topics from your resume. A video resume can greatly add to your traditional text-based or digital resume by showcasing your personality and communications skills. Today’s employers are interested in investing in candidates who have a talent for the coveted “soft skills” of leadership and people management. A video resume can give you an edge in the competitive marketplace. A hiring manager or recruiter may be persuaded on the first viewing that you are the right fit for a company’s corporate culture. Take the time to ensure the video shows you in your best light. Request objective feedback from friends and business associates before posting it online.