Before you start, remind yourself about career aspirations, characteristics of your ideal job, and your basic needs, especially how you plan on balancing your career and personal life. As a general rule, unless you have no alternative, don’t consider positions that don’t meet your needs.

Till the explosion of the Internet, there were five main ways people learned about professional opportunities: newspaper classified ads, storefront signs, alumni associations, trade organizations, and word of mouth. Those days are gone.

Today, in addition to the five mentioned above, there are many other ways to learn about available jobs. First, there are a large and growing number of job search websites. As part of your job hunt strategy, you should browse appropriate sites regularly. Put together a realistic and specific plan as to how often and when you’ll visit the sites. Too many people say they’re looking for a job, but don’t allocate the time to search. For example, your plan can be as simple as pinpointing 30 minutes on two or three weekday mornings before work and another 60 minutes on one day over the weekend. Your plan has to work for you, so don’t set goals you know you won’t achieve.

If you’re currently out of work, don’t let life’s distractions keep you from your hunt. I’ve seen too many home repairs, craft projects, and relatives get in people’s way. If there’s too much going on at home, take your search to anywhere there’s Internet service. Most local libraries have workstations and are peaceful. If you have a laptop with a WiFi connection, go anywhere that meets your needs. For some, that’s a local cafÈ. For others, the cafÈ is the worst spot, because they’ll run into friends and other distractions. Figure out what works for you and make it part of your job hunt routine.

Although job search sites may be helpful, you’ve probably already figured out that your 21st-century career strategy needs to be more proactive to maximize your potential. Your next step may be posting your resume on job search sites, allowing prospective employers to find you before you find them.

If you haven’t already done so, create a LinkedIn profile and keep it up to date. Enable others to view your professional details, so it’s possible for recruiters to hunt you down for positions they’re looking to fill. While you’re at it, join a few groups.

But, what else can you do? Have you ever thought about approaching a company that wasn’t advertising an available position? You’ve figured out who you are and who you want to be. You’ve narrowed down the types of work environments that suit you best. Now, it’s time to look for the organizations that meet your needs and will encourage your career growth. In today’s world, all the information you need is at your fingertips. You can easily search online for organizations that interest you most, meet your needs, and are considered good places to work and build your career.

Don’t hold back. If you’re interested in working for a company that you think will be your next best opportunity, then it’s time for you to reach out and let them know who you are and what you can offer them. Even if they don’t currently have an available position posted, you may peak their interest. Your skill set and experience may help with a need that’s just a short time away. At larger companies, they most likely will keep your information on file for a period of time and contact you in the future.

When approaching an organization that doesn’t have a relevant position available, reach out to department directors and human resources representatives. If possible, get names, contact information, and e-mail addresses online. If not, call the company’s main number and ask for the information. If that doesn’t work, send a note with your resume by mail to the person or department, and call them.

Call? Who calls someone today without first sending an e-mail or two? It’s ok. Really. Pick up the phone and call. Ask for the director of the appropriate department or human resources representative. If you’re asked to identify yourself, be honest. Share your name and interest. If your call is not received nor returned, don’t give up. Give it a few days, and try back. Unless someone explicitly tells you that there aren’t any positions, resumes are not welcome, the person is not accepting calls, etc., keep trying.

When on your job hunt, it’s important to remember to use everything — and everyone —possible to achieve your goals. Reach out to professional associations, friends and family, and other connections. Without jeopardizing your current position, if you’re employed, let people you know what you’re looking for and how they can help you.

There are many ways to aggressively turn your job search into a successful job hunt. Making this significant investment in your career can lead to greater professional satisfaction and accomplishment. It’s one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Hunting for a new job takes time. Devote yourself to your success, and you will be unstoppable.