If you've decided it's time for a new career, making that move can be a bit overwhelming. After all where do you start. Well, start right here with these 8 steps to a successful career search.

1. It all begins and ends with networking. Make a list of everyone you need - friends, family, extended family, co-workers (past and present), church members, neighbors, acquaintances, and anyone else you can think of. Talk to everyone on your list. Of course not all at once but 5 to 10 people a week.

2. There are hundreds of job search engines online like Monster.com, all with hundreds of career opportunities. So review what's available and try to apply for at least 10 postings each week.

3. Jump the gun and apply for a position before it's actually posted. Jumping the gun like this before others know about the position is a great way to move yourself to the front of the line and increase your chances.

4. Respond to every newspaper ad that interests you. Over 95% of all resumes received or tossed so you can't apply for too many positions when you're on a new career search.

5. Find new employers that have just opened up shop by using the internet, networking, checking new phone listings, and watching the papers for press releases. Depending on where you live there may be several a week that apply to the type of work you're looking for. Even better if you can find out about them before they do their big hiring campaign.

6. Follow up calls are essential to any business that you have sent off a resume. That means you should keep a log and then two weeks after you send the resume you should be following up with a personal phone call. If you received an interview you need to send out a thank you letter 2 weeks after the interview. You can see how you'll need a log to keep track.

7. Contact employment agencies and recruiters, also called headhunters. They can be a valuable resource in your career search so don't forget about them.

8. Your references are very important. In fact, more so than most people realize. That's why it's so important to make sure that their contact information is up to date.