Job hunting in itself has always been a full time job. In the past it involved typing a formal resume, printing multiple copies at a local printer, spending hours scouring the daily job listings in the employment sections of newspapers, calling and mailing out resumes to potential employers, and “pounding the pavement”, so to speak, by dressing up and walking in the door for an impromptu introduction and, possibly, an on-the-spot interview.

Today, it’s become even more challenging. The job market is a lot tighter than it used to be. There aren’t as many jobs available and there is a lot more competition for the ones that are out there. A lot of people are out of work, and the longer they are out of the job market, the tougher it is for them to get back in. The world is changing rapidly, and for those who don’t maintain the ever changing skill sets needed to land a job, there is a very real threat they can be left behind.

But there is good news. You don’t have to be one of those people. While technology may help perpetuate this environment of potential obsolescence, It can also empower you with new tools and opportunities to stand out from all the competition, and perhaps even land the job of your dreams.

For instance, the proliferation of modern home computers allows almost anyone with a PC and a printer to create and print their own resume, as many copies as they need whenever they are needed. It isn’t necessary to stick to one resume, either. They can be changed or modified on the fly to customize personally for any specific job. There is no longer a need to scour the newspapers to find that one listing that is relevant to the type of job you are seeking. Now you can instantly look up job listings on the internet and filter them down to just the ones you are looking for, saving you hours of searching. You don’t even need to keep it local. You can search jobs listed across the country or even find one in another part of the world.

As for keeping up your job skills, You have now have opportunities available that did not exist twenty years ago. There are many online resources available to help you stay current in your field or find a new field to enter. Many colleges now offer continuing education classes online. Free trade publications are available that can be downloaded instantly to keep you on top of the latest topics and technologies in your industry of interest. Social networking sites such as LinkedIn can not only help you network with other professionals in your field, but can help you stay current with your peers.

There are even Media On Demand resources such as the Jobcast Podcast and Tech Jobcast, audio resources that allow you to stay on top of jobs posted online while on the go.

Searching for a job in these uncertain times can be difficult, daunting and even depressing. I know, I’ve been there. But I found the job I was searching for, and if I can do it, you can too. Chances are, it won’t just drop in your lap. You need to go out and get it. Make the most of all of the resources available to you, they can help you provide the advantage you need to stand out from the rest of the crowd and land your next career.