The holidays are right around the corner where it’s now a time to reflect on the year that is near its end and, 2011, the new year to come. A time to get together with close friends and family and perhaps ... A time to think of those not so fortunate - where volunteering to help those in need might be a reminder of how thankful and grateful we should be..., for what we do have.

As Recruiting Professional I thought, what if I were in a different profession and, because of current economic times, I became part of that unfortunate statistic- a member of the newly unemployed ... the not so fortunate. My holiday celebrations stifled, clouded with my thoughts of an uncertain future.

Taking a full assessment of my predicament, I have surmised that the longer I stay unemployed the more difficult it will be to rejoin the work force. I need a game plan ready right after the holidays are completed. I am also equipped luckily, with the skills of a Killer Recruiter... It’s time to get cracking...

In between parties, family gatherings, cake, turkey, rum punch, and more food ... I look at multiple job opportunities posted on popular job sites I prepare multiple versions of my resume all geared to the language and content used in the job descriptions as it applies to my experience and different aspects of my profession. Some of the resumes are structured to cover roles that would position me $10k to $15k above my last base salary and in other resumes atleast $10k below. Great I got the `` I am over-qualified excuse covered``... and ... I have prepared and rehearsed the sell conversation for each of these resume formats.

I put the word out to close friends and family that I am looking and to let me know if anything interesting shows up on the radar ... I hit the phone with colleagues I have worked with in the past to let them know my situation and to also keep their ears on alert ..

I call up specific recruiters that I have researched or have worked it in the past who know my world and recruiters who have established direct decision maker relationships and most importantly know how to sell me and my skills.

Jumping online I check out networking events that cater to my industry and also find out before hand who is attending these events. When attending these events my goals are clear: have that 30 second intro ready, be prepared to exchange those business cards and be ready to call those prospects the following week. I want to meet for a coffee, 10- 15 minutes is all I need. I am not going to ask for a Job instead , I`ll ask about the industry, the company, its direction, theirs... and, through that conversation I can say by the way I am on the market. People love to impart useful knowledge to willing listeners. I have paid the seller of that knowledge a great compliment.

It`s now time to hit the Social Media Networks not just LinkedIN, there is a whole host of other Business Social Networking sites that can be utilized http://t.co/KxjLMaP ... This is where I can get really creative by mapping out the companies I am interested in and looking at key decision makers within those companies. I want to make a direct connection with them but more importantly I have done my research on the contacts I wish to connect with, I can have an intelligent conversation about who I am and my interest without asking directly for a job right away. All of my professional profiles online have a common theme and I have branded myself appropriately to reach my target audiences.

Now I need to think of a useful Blog I can Join or start - where I could provide useful information while advertising my expertise. I would also fine tune those objectives where neither over powers the other. Promote that blog across the Social Media Network through Twitter and sites like Digg and Stumbleupon. I can also do the same by contributing to online industry groups and forums, like those found on LinkedIn.

Its Monday Jan 3^rd and 2011 has arrived ... The clouds are lifted, my thoughts are clear - my game plan in hand – the phone has a dial tone.. I am ready to rock ... I got to let you go... I have to take this call ...

To my fellow Recruiting and HR Professionals – perhaps we may be able to give a little through our various experiences in the form of more suggestions, tips, techniques, strategies that might help someone..., in some way..., that has found themselves in this predicament of being a member of the unemployed ...