This is an expert job search edition to give you some of the best advice out there. I am proud to say that over the last two years I’ve been able to talk with experienced and influential career coaches and educators. All of the quotes are from the article written on this blog from interviews that I’ve done since July 2011 and relevant to today’s job search. I may have quoted the author from his or her book yet, talked about the advice on the podcast.  I hope that you can go and apply this advice right after reading this article. If you need help in implementing this advice feel free to contact me, and I will be glad to schedule you for a consultation.

There is timeless job search advice from these five experts today. The job search advice is also practical enough to continue your own research and find sources on how it can advance your efforts.

Bill Holland, the author of Cracking The New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy

Today, if you are looking for work, it is helpful to target companies and determine how they recruit. Almost all recruiting today involves the Internet.  The hiring processes, once described as hidden (I prefer “splintered”) are now largely open and easily accessible.

If you want to know where to look, identify your target organizations and ask them how they recruit.  Most will be happy to tell you.  A family friend recently got his next job this way.  They told him to keep an eye open for job listings by becoming a “Fan” on Facebook.  He also engaged his network; had people put in a good word for him; used job boards; and regularly checked the job ads in the Wall Street Journal.  But sure enough, he learned of his next opportunity by doing exactly what they advised him to do.

Pete Leibman, the author of I Got My Dream Job and So Can You

Employers hire people for one reason: to solve problems and deliver results.  Your goal (before the interview and during the interview) is to convince the employer that you have the skills and traits needed to deliver the desired results in the position.  Once you get clear on what the employer is looking for (which you can usually gather through employer research and by studying the job description meticulously), your next step is to prepare your “evidence” for why the employer should hire you.  You should be prepared to discuss prior achievements and stories from your past that demonstrate how you have each skill and trait needed for success in the position.

Emily Bennington, the author of Who Says It’s a Man’s World

Professional development is a real grey area in business. Some companies are outstanding at it while others totally suck. The ones that excel have full leadership buy-in and actually put their resources where their mouth is when it comes to “people first.” Still, I strongly believe it’s up to each individual to take charge of your own professional development and fill in any gaps between where you are and where you want to be. No one will ever care about your career more than you do.

Margie Warrell, the author of Stop Playing Safe

If you’re putting yourself out there, taking on bigger challenges at work and laying more on the line, you have to be careful to ensure that you have the competence needed to deliver results. Too often, promising careers take a steep nosedive when people are assigned to positions they simply don’t have the competence to do well.

Leigh Branham, author of Author of The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave

The data indicate that many job seekers experience disillusionment in the first few months on the job but stay, and disengage for several weeks or months before finally beginning to look for a job.  Finally, a “last straw” event occurs that moves them off dead center–an “I’m outta here” moment, so to speak.

To avoid disillusionment, job seekers need to have a mindset of “I’m hiring my next employer” and ask more questions about company culture as they network and ask to speak informally with future peers before accepting the position.  It’s also advisable to take on a consulting assignment or project before accepting a full-time job so you  can have first-hand experience of the company before making the decision.

Which advice will you implement today? Please, let’s discuss!