To play a great job search game, you need a great team. On your defensive line, you have your network, co-workers, and supervisors past and present. They can keep you from being the one in five taken out by a reference check gone wrong. On your offensive line, you have online search platforms, social media, web and mobile technology. These key players in your job search allow you to network virtually and score connections.

Our infographic below shares six new trends impacting job seekers. These job search trends will show you why looking for a job is like playing a game — it’s best done with your team behind you.

No more resumes. No more cover letters. No more practice interviews. No more sending in applications and not-so-patiently waiting.

Melanie just got a job offer call from Cloud45, a communications company she’s had her eye on for several months. Though the company never posted the available position, as soon as they saw a need, Melanie was the first candidate in mind for the job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more hires than posted job openings in both May and June this year. That means, job seekers like Melanie are becoming crafty in finding job opportunities in the hidden market.

Take a look at Melanie’s secrets to learn ways you can get a job offer before the position is open.

Whether it’s a phone interview, video interview, or background check, most employers screen potential candidates. This helps employers determine whether it’s worth sending an individual to the next round of interviews.

A job interview screening is one of the first steps of the hiring process for employers. It usually consists of a series of questions that help hiring managers decide whether a candidate is a good fit and honestly submitted their job application.

If you’ve recently applied for a job and a hiring manager has mentioned getting in touch with you, it’s a good chance they’re going to perform a candidate screening. Here are four tips to help you prepare for and stand out during the interview:

As students prep for the upcoming school year by purchasing textbooks and school supplies, job seekers also need to prepare for their job search.

From using LinkedIn and Twitter to building a professional blog, there are a variety of tools you can use to improve your job search. If you’re wondering what job search tools you can add to your toolbox, here are five essentials to get you started:

Networking is an important and vital part of the job hunt, yet many job seekers are actually shooting themselves in the foot during the networking process.

Whether you’re meeting a professional contact for the first time, or have known them for a while, there are definite “no-no’s” you need to be aware of in all professional networking situations. Follow these tips to avoid ruining your chances for a positive networking experience, and perhaps your next job:  

Whether it’s general advice, or advice specifically targeted to your career, there are few “one-size-fits-all” pieces of advice that will truly provide value to you.

While there is no doubt that most of the people who have given (and will give) you advice have your best interest at heart, however, sometimes it’s best to just leave some of the advice behind and follow your gut.