This is a post I wrote for The Matrix Wall, where I am a "regular" contributor.

I speak with overwhelmed job seekers every week who can't seem to gain any traction in their job search.  They tell me, "I'm applying for just about anything that will pay me".  This, my friends, will get you nowhere.  My suggestion to the job seeker is to stop the scattershooting and laser focus your search.

FOCUS

Here is a great way to start narrowing your focus.  Make some lists.  Start with a list of things you have recently been paid to do.  Your next list is of things you like to do.  Then make a list of things that you have been paid to do that you like to do.  Finally make a list of things that you like to do and are most likely to get paid to do.  This last list is what you should focus on.

If you are applying for jobs that you are not really interested in just to see if you can get an interview and possibly a pay check, that probably won't pan out well.  But if you really target jobs that are specific to what you do and what you like, your chances of success go way up.  Your attitude towards these jobs will be better and your enthusiasm will show in the interview process. 

IDENTIFY

Once you have your narrowed list, try to identify some companies who might hire someone to do the things that meet your focus.  Find people on Linkedin who work for those companies.  Look at the Linkedin groups those people participate in and join them.  Participate in those groups a couple of times a week by posting interesting and relevant links to articles or new items and by asking or answering questions.

NETWORK FOR REFERRALS

After you have participated in these groups for 2 or three weeks, and shown yourself to be an active and valuable resource, ask the members who work for the companies you have identified to join your network.  Let them know you are in job search mode are interested in learning more about their experience with their company.  Continue to build rapport and finally ask these new members of your network if they would feel comfortable referring you in to their employer.  Maybe even invite them to coffee to make the request.

When you have a focus and a target for your job search, you give yourself direction and a better chance for success.  A huge percentage of corporate placements happen by referral.  So focus, identify, network and get referred in.  Happy job hunting!

Craig Fisher is a founding partner of A-List solutions, blogger at www.fishdogs.com, and host of the TalentNet Live #TNL recruiter forum. As a 15 year recruiting industry veteran, Craig is a social recruiting & new media branding strategist for job seekers and employers. Follow Craig on Twitter@Fishdogs.

I was interviewed recently by Undercover Recruiter author, Jorgen Sundberg.  I met him earlier this year in London when I spoke at the  TRU London unconference.  Great guy.  I hope to be back in the UK and maybe see Jorgen again at TRU Manchester in September.  Jorgen's blog is great and this interview offers some interesting stuff.  Enjoy.

From: Job Search and Social Media Tips from Fishdogs by Jorgen Sundberg

Today, I spoke to Craig Fisher, aka Fishdogs. He is a hot shot recruiter, social media strategist, speaker and founder of A-List Solutions based in Dallas, Texas.

What do you recruit for and what geography do you cover?

Our main business is IT staffing and executive search. We mainly cover the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. But we have clients with offices nationwide that we service as well.

How's business and outlook for the year?

Business has been brisk since December. Our projections are good. We'll set records. But last year started strong and then fell off as unemployment rose.

What is the key to your success?

Our clients like us because we have a good combination of technical and business knowledge. So we get under the hood and discover what the client's real needs are. This usually differs substantially from the given job description.
We also talk with current employees and try to develop a personality profile that will work long term. Then we are able to really target specific candidates vs. sending multiple resumes to see what sticks.

What are the trends you have spotted in your field?

Sourcing is a bigger and bigger deal. I have been a full desk recruiter and did all my own sourcing. But I have also employed dedicated sourcers for specific searches. It's great to have someone who can just churn out skill-qualified candidates.
Unfortunately you still need a good recruiter to vet these candidates thoroughly. And that's where the process often breaks down. We find more candidates, but they are not vetted, pre-closed, etc. So candidate to hire ratio is no better. Maybe worse. It is taking longer to hire overall.

How much do you use social media to find clients and candidates?

We use social media all the time to find clients and candidates. Most of our new clients come from social media. Many of our candidate or candidate referrals do too. For sourcing, Linkedin is by far the most effective. Linkedin is also good for creating groups of candidate and client communities.
Twitter is best for actual relationship building. You can have better conversations there than on any other platfform. I like to use Twitter to compliment my Linkedin and Facebook accounts. Facebook is becoming a better referral tool as I create more groups there for specific communities. But Twitter is still where the conversations take place.

How important are resumes and cover letters?

Resumes and cover letters are still very important. But they may begin to take more of an online or virtual form on sites designed to keep the information fluid and dynamic.