Recruiting expert Dave Willmer knows that job hunting is tough. He also knows you have all kinds of tools at your disposal to look for that next position. So what's the right strategy? In Computerworld, he says you should try several things simultaneously.

Try to establish a mix of tools - specialized and general, large and small, local and national, online and off. Keep in mind that in general, the smaller and more specialized the source, the less time you're likely to spend sifting through irrelevant leads. The same applies to geographic focus: The want ads in a local business publication may feel passé, but their intense local focus may make them worth a look.

The local want ads? That's not the kind of advice online job hunters are used to hearing, but it makes sense. Willmer also advises that you leave a trail of bread crumbs as you search.

A multifaceted job search can quickly become overwhelming if you don't keep track of your efforts. Take a few minutes out of each day to update a document or spreadsheet in which you briefly note the source of any new potential opportunity, the action taken and any planned next steps. Doing so might feel unnecessary, but it will help you identify redundant efforts and dead ends. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment on days when you don't receive encouraging responses from network contacts or potential employers.

That's an excellent bit of advice, one that many job seekers forget about, only to end up with scratch pads full of notes and phone numbers and a lack of focus on what to do tomorrow and the next day. Organizational skills always matter, whether you're on the job or looking for one.

-- Don Willmott