First of all, let's talk about what the 21st Century job search rules are all about. An easy way to understand them is to compare them with the old-fashioned traditional approach. That's where you write a resume, mail or email it to a bunch of employers and agencies. Or post it on job websites like Monster and HotJobs. And then you wait for the phone to ring.

If it does, you may get invited in for an interview . . . usually with an HR associate or a low-level management assistant. If it doesn't, you send out more resumes.

Now, honestly, you may wind up with a job using this old-fashioned, traditional approach . . . if you're willing to wait out weeks or months of frustration, nail-biting, and downright discouragement. And the job will probably be one you had to settle for, rather than select.

By contrast, the nw 21st Century job search rule require you to get right down to business because they take a totally different approach. For example, you can be meeting face-to-face with the person who could be your next boss in a matter of days. You could be entertaining a job offer in as little as two weeks.

The reason the new rules can get results so quickly is because it doesn't rely on your resume to get the job done. You see, employers really aren't interested in what you used to do for someone else. They want to know what you can do for them going forward.

So, if you follow the new rules, your resume comes last. The first step is to identify employers where there's a match between your capabilities and interests and their needs. The second step is to devise creative ways to meet face-to-face with those decision-makers.

The new rules use a successful step-by-step method for achieving each of the intermediate goals in record time. And they show you how to present yourself to an employer in a compelling way so that he/she can see you as a contributor to their organization.

What's exciting about the new 21st Century job search is that it bypasses all of the useless techniques that everyone thinks is required to succeed in the job market. The reason that's important is that the 21st job marketplace is dramatically different.

For example, expectations have changed. Employers today are values oriented. They expect a job candidate to know and understand the goals of the organization. And they want the job seeker to come forward with very specific ideas or plans for how they can contribute bottom line fast.

The old-fashioned traditional approach just doesn't get it anymore. What used to work great just a few years ago is now becomes a guarantee for a long, protracted and marginally successful job campaign. It's time to play by the new rules!