Conduct a people search, not just a job search.

Job boards are fading away and aren’t as useful as they were a decade ago. Now, everyone is on social networks and can be contacted, without having to go through chains of command. The best way to navigate the recruitment process is to contact employers directly, instead of applying for a job that might not be available anyway. Use search engines, including Twitter, Facebook, Technorati and Google to locate employees who work at companies you’re interested in and reach out to them. By doing this, you’ll appear genuine and have a better chance of getting the job you actually want.