Why is a job search market plan so important? Because since 9/11 and Katrina everything's changed. There have been significant advances in hiring practices. Employers have new and different expectations of a job candidate. And all this has required new and alternative ways of thinking about finding a job.

You can't expect to make your way successfully through these new practices without a roadmap . . . or a job search market plan. That's because the successful job candidate these days must learn to run a job search like a small business.

We discovered many years ago that the principles that guide the business market are the same for the employment market. And no successful business make it today without a job search market plan.

To make sure you put it to work for you, it's important to write it down. Prepare a plan that you can use as an honest and realistic guide. Here are the components of a succesful plan:

1. Identify and list your work-style values, ethics and philosophy that guide your everyday employment activities. This list must go way beyond a ritual recital of your accomplishments or work history. Employers today are much more interested in the kind of person you are rather than what you used to do for someone else.

2. Target companies and organizations that hold an interest for you. Make your written list expansive. Do not eliminate employers because you think they wouldn't hire you.

3. Identify the hiring decision-makers in those organizations. In other words, who would your next boss be?

4. Build a list of contacts who can assist you in your search. On this list are the names of any individuals who could help by introducing you to hiring decision-makers, or to someone who could open the door for you through a referral. Do not pre-judge who could or could not help you. Remember people are always anxious to give you advice even if they can't refer you.

5. As a last step, put together a resume to use as a ?business card? to leave behind for your contacts.

6. Begin contacting everyone on your list in person to ask them for their advice as to how they can assist you in your job search.

Putting together a job search market plan with this information gives you a real head start. From here you're ready to explore the unique opportunities that may be waiting for you in today's amazing marketplace.