• by Beverly Weinstein , January 19, 2009

First of all, you don't have to talk. You can save your voice and begin your job search with email. Not only is it a great first point of communication, but you can always backspace if something doesn't come out just right, an option the phone never offers.

Depending on your level of seniority, my advice on reaching out to let people know you're in the job market is slightly different.

The more senior you are, the fewer the job opportunities, the more important it is to develop a job search strategy. You'll probably need to rebuild a strong resume, and put some time into how you are going to "market" yourself. But don't wait until all of these components come together before tapping into contacts. Get on the computer now.

Start sending emails to people you've worked with most regularly, as well as to your friends and counterparts at other companies. Let them know you're in the job market and thank them for their business and/or let them know them how much you've enjoyed working with them. A little flattery will go a long way. Don't forget to include your new contact information and tell them you'll be in touch with them.

Once you've sent more personalized emails, put social networking sites to work: Linked In, Facebook, Plaxo Plus and whatever else you may be using. If you have relationships with recruiters, add them to your initial outreach as well.

If you're more junior, and especially if you're in the digital space, short of walking the streets with a sandwich board, tell everyone you can think of that you're looking for a new job. Social networking sites should be a big part of your outreach as well.

Besides it's a great excuse to surf through Facebook for a few hours or so. You probably have more business "friends" than you realize and it's an easy way to reconnect with people you haven't been in touch with for awhile but that may be able to point you in the direction of a job opportunity.

No matter what your career level, keep your feelings of anger out of your job search communications. Sure it's hard not to be angry right after you've been fired, regardless of whether you're one of 600 in a round of lay-offs or if you're one of one, but there is a really good chance you'll regret something that you say.

Getting back in the game is in your hands. Ben Franklin once said, "Diligence is the mother of good luck." So start writing emails, perusing your contacts, and constructing that sandwich board. It's time to turn your luck around.

Editor's note: If you've lost a job in the media industry recently, or are afraid of doing so, despair not. Beverly Weinstein's column will reappear here regularly dispensing sound advice and practical tactics for managing your career in a volatile employment market. If you have specific questions about what you should do, please post them below, and Bev will help you out. Or if you feel uncomfortable posting your queries publicly, feel free to email Bev anonymously at dearbev@markhammedia.com