While 2008 marked the beginning of a rapid recession in the U.S., many are finding lay off's are still taking place. The world was changing while you were comfortably enjoying your last job. Now you find yourself unemployed and caught up in a new rat race, seeking decent employment to maintain the lifestyle you had to leave behind this or last year. Or maybe, like me, you are still waiting for your last day with baited breath wondering how you are going to get little Allie braces if need be.

My last day at my employer is April 1, 2010. I am a Recruiter in Human Resources and have known my current fate for over a year. I love my job, but it has been steadily changing with more and more responsibility taken from me daily. I work a traditional job Recruiting. Lots and lots of job fairs, face to face communication and paper resumes. I may have even seen your resume. I was the 'Green' girl thinking 'wasted trees!' Now as times are changing and even the last 'traditional' office is becoming more and more electronic, my position being sent to another city, I have seen the reality of the phrase: 'Phased Out'.

Now, don't get me wrong. That was before I was slowly being 'phased out' and was still on the payroll. My new boss at that time, insisted that I get into social networking and that I join social media sites such as Linked In, etc. Since my 'paper days' as I call them, I have had to learn the 'new way' of doing things to keep up with whole phase of transition and a 'speed hiring' technique. For a recruiter, that means thinking fast on your feet, 4 second resume reviews and other niceties. It meant that if I was reviewing YOUR resume, and I didn't see anything that grabbed my interest before the phone rang, again, you would be skipped over like last nights meatloaf in the fridge.

Social networking takes TIME. You may not be the boss' sister's friends golf buddy. So I'm not going to let you in on any secret that you didn't already know. I am going to tell you what I do know so you can prepare yourself for job hunting in today's highly competitive job market.

My hope is to engage you and show you just what employers are seeking in 2010, assist in opening your mind to more potential than 2008 and 2009 and show you that you are not expendable. Your skills are more than just useful in this changing environment, but critical to new businesses success.