"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Being actively resourceful in a tight labor market is survival in the job market these days. At one time, "Getting your foot in the door" meant beginning in the mailroom and working up over a period of years to the executive suite. But now, the same phrase means creativity in finding career opportunities that match your skills, motivators, values, and achievements.

Then, it becomes a matter of research, targeting and developing action plans to lead you to decision makers. The targeting exercise is one of the most powerful job search techniques available to management and senior executives. Develop a list of pre-determined criteria. Look for matches when you research companies by the established criteria. It often includes such things as size, culture, industry, and geographical preferences.

Getting your foot in the right door is as important component as finding the position. Gayle Landen, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida assessed her career path as an organizational development consultant where arduous travel was required. She wanted to give back to the community where she lived and from where she received pleasure from volunteer involvement. That meant a career change.

After assessing her strengths and skills, Landen redefined herself and targeted the not for profit sector. "I spent hours doing research and talking to people who had knowledge in the field," she said. "That led to being told of an opening for an Executive Director of an organization focusing on the needs of disadvantaged youth "I did more research on the agency and its mission, and contacted former board members for their insights and experiences. When I was selected for an interview, I continued my research. Not only did I have information about the organization, but I also had a list of questions related to their needs and future plans."

Landen was selected for the position from a field of more than 100 applicants, many of whom had more experience in the not for profit sector, but none who had researched the target as well as she had.

After preliminary research on the Internet and reading the relevant data, talk to people at the highest level you can reach in the company. Explain you are seeking information. Define a problem and provide the solution. A letter to the right person in the company, even though they have no announced vacancies, can be the key to success. Share your unique achievements that will be of interest and will generate ideas. Strive to become the leader of the pack of qualified candidates in the job market.

Make use of associations where the people from your target area are members. Having access to this list can get you valuable information and advice. Since research involves the Internet, click onto home pages of companies in your target list. They often have links to career opportunities, or information about career paths, potential growth or expansion of the company and other links that are of value."

Good communication skills are critical when contacting the people on your target list. Experts in the career development field tell candidates that effective résumés focus on the needs of the industry, and spells out quantifiable achievements to benefit the company. Knowing the company's mission, its plans for expansion, it products, and services is a sure fire way to get an interview as well as to impress the people with whom you will be meeting.

Cover letters should be original. Recruiters and human resources professionals, alike, can determine when a cover letter comes straight from a book. They look for something in the first sentence that "hook's" the attention of the reader. Begin letters with an achievement to solve a problem or add to the company's bottom line. A current event affecting the industry grabs attention and often provokes the curiosity of the person you are trying to reach. This is where creativity and knowledge of the company through research pays off."

Getting your foot in the door is a matter of targeting where you will be a good fit, doing your homework through research, and intense preparation for a face-to-face meeting.

Resourceful job searchers know they must continuously create new ways to get their foot in the door. They also know they must practice aiming for the target until they hit their mark.