For some, the job search boils down to common sense. For others, everything about looking for work in an economy like this one is a big mystery. Employment coaches and advisers have all kinds of advice. So buck up and read on. We've pulled together some of their best tips to get you started on the road to finding your next paycheck, or, better yet, the career of your dreams.

Develop a written game plan

Veteran career coach Gordon Miller tells his clients to "draw a line in the sand" by creating a structured 30-day plan for steps they will take to find a job.

This involves putting together a written strategy, much like a business would, with a series of actions you will take each day. Don't take an informal, undisciplined approach and expect results, says Miller, whose firm is called Dovetail Solutions. A written plan starts with where you are - "unemployed, unfortunately" - and ends with where you need to be.

Establish a routine

If you've been working for any length of time, you're accustomed to a routine. So you need to create your own once you no longer have a job.

"Your full-time job is finding a full-time job," notes Andrew Hudson, who runs a job list site and provides advice to career seekers.

Don't sleep until 10 a.m. every day and expect to find work wearing your pajamas and sitting at your computer for a couple of hours a day. Get out and meet people and schedule "informational interviews" with people you know. The goal is to collect information and get referrals.

Focus on the positive

People tend to let their confidence slide after a layoff, which for many people can be more traumatic than a death or a divorce because of the identity loss that goes with losing a job.

"You still have skills that are very marketable," Hudson says. Figure out what they are and develop phrases that describe what you can do. If you're responding to a job posting, include resume "keywords" that employers are searching for based on the qualifications and experience they list.

Hudson advocates creating a "top- line branding statement" for your resume that explains exactly what you can offer to a potential employer. "Don't be shy," he says.

Go directly to people hiring

Avoid networking events where you pass out your cards and resumes to 100 people you don't know. That doesn't work, Miller says.

Likewise, he counsels clients against spending all their time sending resumes and cover letters to online job postings.

"Companies are hiring, and I think it's important to know that," Miller says. But you need to go directly to the folks who can hire you and not spend time on activities that don't put you in touch with the right people, he says.

Don't bother to follow up with people who never respond to your initial attempt to make contact - it's highly unlikely they will suddenly realize they want to hire you, Miller says. It's just more depressing to be rejected again.

Use technology

If you belong to social networking sites or have a personal blog, adjust your privacy settings so you control who has access. You can use BlogPulse or Technorati to track online conversations about you or your sites.

At the same time, posting useful advice and commentary on industry forums can add to your credibility, according to Dave Willmer, executive director of specialized search firm Robert Half Technology.

Business information Web sites such as ZoomInfo allow users to post information about themselves. Consider including details about your professional involvement and qualifications on these types of forums, Willmer says.

Don't forget: The Internet is the easiest way to research companies you will be interviewing with.

In terms of employment Web sites, know this: Some experts advocate using them to check job listings, but others say successful job seekers tend to find work through referrals from people they know or by making direct contact with people in a position to hire them. Listing sites include: CareerBuilder.com; Indeed.com; Monster.com; Dice.com.

Request introductions

Ask people you know for introductions to decision-makers, those with the final say over whether you will be hired.

"The key is getting a 'warm' introduction to a targeted company. It trumps everything," Miller says. "Companies hire people that have been recommended to them by people they know and trust."

Miller advises not dwelling on a resume but more on what he calls a "value proposition" letter. Spell out specifically what "processes and programs" you can bring to an employer.

"You've got to stand out from the crowd and clearly differentiate yourself," he says.

Avoid obvious mistakes

Typos on your resume won't help. Send follow-up notes to those who have agreed to speak with you.

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