Kevin DonlinKevin Donlin, MSU alum, is a job search expert—read his bio for proof—with cutting edge advice that is perfect for entering the job market in these tough economic times.

In a meeting with the Career Services Network, Donlin said that his biggest career advice is the following: “Stop looking for jobs; start looking for employers instead.” Once you have determined what you want to do, Donlin says, make “a job shopping list of 10 to 20 employers.” Soon, you will start noticing the mention of your choice organizations, helping you learn more about them and potentially opening up networking opportunities that you may have missed before you made the list.

On a similar note, Donlin says that applying only for advertised jobs is like only targeting the tip of an iceberg that is sinking deeper into the water all the time, especially with the tightened job market. The part of the iceberg that’s underneath the water represents the hidden job market, those jobs that are accessed mostly through networking and are based on internal recommendations. As Donlin says, “Any job worth having isn’t advertised or hasn’t been created yet.”

That said, recognize that if you do choose to apply for an advertised job, you are going to have a ton of competition. Donlin compares applying for a job on Monster to buying a lottery ticket. Set yourself apart however you can, as long as it is professional, preferably by finding a contact within the company who can make sure your résumé gets to the right person.

Another way you can make yourself stand out is by using recommendation quotes in your résumé and cover letter. It is a great way to beef up your application materials if you have limited relevant experience. One easy way to get quotes is by requesting them from former or current co-workers on LinkedIn. By the way, if you haven’t heard of LinkedIn, it’s a social networking tool for professionals—a career-focused Facebook. Donlin says, “From an employer perspective, if you aren’t on LinkedIn, you don’t exist.” Think of all of the hours you log on Facebook. If you devoted just some of that time to creating and completing a profile on LinkedIn, you would be increasing your career network and, therefore, your job prospects—time well spent. Once you get on LinkedIn, it is important to complete your profile to show potential employers that you can complete a task from start to finish. If you are able to get some good recommendations on LinkedIn, it may be a good idea to put the URL of your profile on the bottom of your résumé where you would normally write, “References available upon request.”

Donlin’s simplest tip is to add a P.S. to your cover letters because it is the second most read part of a letter, after the salutation. In your P.S., give an action path: for example, write, “Call me at [your phone number here] if you have any further questions.” Along the same lines, use different media (email, phone, letters) to connect with potential employers, and give them a new reason to hire you each time.

If you are lucky enough to land an interview, treat it as if it were your first day on the job. Interviewing for a sales job? Bring sales leads to the interview. Donlin spoke of a woman who was interviewing for a social media internship at a non-profit. She brought a presentation about best social media practices used by non-profits to the interview, and they offered her the position on the spot!

An additional piece of advice for MSU students: find people in your field(s) of interest who are MSU alumni—there are so many alumni in the workforce and just that affinity will make them listen to you. Display thought, clarity, and that you’ve done your research because even fellow Spartans won’t think for you.

Ultimately, Donlin says, “There’s no shame in being in a job you don’t like, as long as you know where you want to go.” If you don’t know where you want to end up, don’t worry either. Donlin recommends asking yourself questions such as “What section do I always go to in the book store?” and “What would I do all day if I didn’t have to work?” to get at what you are really passionate about. Remember: you may not work in a job that is directly related to your major. There is no shame in this; in fact, it’s expected!

Take action: Get more of Donlin’s career advice by checking out the book he co-authored, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0, or read the column he writes for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.