I think everyone, irrespective of their industry or the conditions, should always be prepared to make a job change. There is never any downside to having an up to date resume and a well formed network of professional contacts. You never know when an unsolicited inquiry may come your way. That said, in your case, I would make certain that your career materials are ready and I would touch base with those in your network of contacts just to say hello. You may be surprised to learn of other opportunities just by making such a call. If you haven’t already done so, start attending meetings of your professional membership group to get “face time” in advance of doing so in the event of a lay off. Overall, I think this passive approach in the absence of any concrete evidence of trouble at your firm, should position you well. (answered by Vincent Masino)

YES. I can tell you that one of the hardest parts of a hiring cycle is the Reference Check. Firms are looking at any source of information about a candidate and these types of social networking sites are within the public domain and fair game for a company to look at. When you consider how difficult it is to get a third party to say anything about anyone in a reference setting, it is easy to see why these sites are no-brainers as part of a pre-offer check list. So be certain that the information on these and any other sites that are easy to pull up reflect the image you want.

For more information on the subject, please check out my article titled "Invisible Tattos", right here on WallStJobs.com! (answered by Marc Silbert)

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get. While there is no hard and fast rule, I believe that two pages is the maximum. There are literally hundreds of books written on resumes, many of which are worth reading but in the end, it is up to you to create a product that both accurately represents your skills and accomplishments as they relate to the job you are seeking. The last part is crucial. A “one size fits all” resume does not work today. You must customize your resume to resonate with the requirements of the position. Two pages should be more than enough to pique the interest of a potential employer.

If you think your resume needs brushing up, if you need detailed advice on your particular resume, or if you're in need of a total re-write, there are plenty of professional resume writing services out there. You can check out the career section of our site, for example. (answered by Vincent Masino)

Great question. I am a believer that a handwritten note packs more punch than an email in this case. A well-written (and legible!) note, written on quality stationery will be remembered. Be certain to mention the positives of the interview and if necessary, mitigate a negative. Don’t write a treatise, just a few sentences thanking the person for their time, reiterate the positives, and a strong closing that reinforces your desire to work there and your commitment to succeed. Hand stamp, do not use a postage meter. As with all business correspondence, check spellings and grammer. Of course, timing is important. If you haven’t written a note within the first twenty-four hours, then send an email immediately.

I wrote an article on this subject just about a year ago. Take a look at "When Job-Hunting, The Pen Can Be Mightier Than the Computer!" (answered by Robert Graber)