So should you rely on job fairs, Internet job boards or social media for employment leads? The answer for most successful job-seekers is all of the above and then some.

A multipronged approach makes the best use of your time and energy. Check out these eight ways that people search for jobs.

1. Internet job boards
Mainstream Internet job boards such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com were once the go-to resource for job-seekers.

Although these job boards have been around for about 15 years, they are quickly running out of steam, in part because there are fewer jobs to post and overwhelmed employers often take jobs offline after receiving thousands of resumes in a single day.

Monster.com advertises on its Web site that it has over 70 million personalized accounts. So if you’re not first in line once a company posts a job, it’s likely that your resume may turn into digital vapor, says Todd Bermont, author of “10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search.”

“Maybe 5 (percent) to 10% of all people get jobs through a job board,” he says. “It’s not to say it’s a waste of time, but you don’t want that to be your sole job-seeking activity of the day.”

Bermont, whose job-hunting courses have been featured at the University of Chicago’s Graham School and at Loyola University, says employers often look at the first 100 or so resumes while the rest fall by the wayside.

Job-seekers may be more productive using industry-specific job boards. Job-hunt.org is a good resource for finding these Web sites.

Full Store Here: FoxBusiness.com

Many of us with roots in the area may have family and friends that were employed in the once preeminent textile industry. Both sets of my grandparents and many of our relatives worked at the various mills which dominated our local economy. Then in the early to mid 1980’s, many of the textile companies lost the competitive edge to international markets which supplied products less expensively. Strikes and labor negotiations between the unions and management broke down as plant after plant closed its doors leaving workers displaced and wondering where they would turn. For many, their job at the local plant was the only position they had ever held leaving them with an uncertain future and limited skills.

 Over the last fifty years, unions have been in decline. For much of the time, total union membership grew, but not as fast as the workforce. So the percentage of union members in the workforce declined. In recent years, union membership has been declining in absolute terms as well. Unions are tired of losing elections or winning the election, but not getting a contract. Hence the Employee Free Choice Act.

The bill contains the following provisions:

There would be no more secret ballot elections for union representation. When a union got more than half the employees in a workplace to sign union cards, the union would be recognized. Penalties for employer unfair labor practices would be increased significantly. If the parties cannot agree to a contract within 120 days, an arbitrator would write the parts of the contract about which the parties could not agree.

 It is much easier to get employees to sign union cards than it is to get them to cast a secret ballot for the union. Peer pressure can get signatures. But peer pressure does not work as well when the employee is marking a secret ballot. Indeed, most unions require their organizers to get 65% of employees to sign cards before the union will petition the Labor Board for an election. Yet unions still lose lots of elections. So the card check provision of the law makes organizing easy. But the arbitration of contract terms should be of equal concern to employers. Today, nothing goes in a contract unless the employer agrees. But under the EFCA, an arbitrator could impose terms on an employer that the employer would never agree to.

Do small business need to be concerned? Absolutely! Studies have shown that it is much easier for a union to organize a small business than a large one. One reason is that it is much easier to keep union activity a secret among a smaller group of people. Large companies are prepared for union activity. They have large sophisticated Human Resource departments to manage employee relations.

Much like the storm which swept away much of the textile industry many years ago, this legislation could be the last blow for many of our businesses that are already facing intense competition. This could be the final straw that some companies may use to move their operations offshore to countries where unions are non-existent. As we rebuild our struggling economy, we do not need to lose more jobs to international competition. A major competitive advantage for North Carolina has been our status as a right to work state and low union activity. If this bill passes, there will be a renewed emphasis by the AFL-CIO to change the face of our labor force in the Carolinas.

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce is strongly opposed to this proposed legislation and we encourage you to call or write your Senators and members of Congress and share your concerns as well.

Over the last few days…I’ve seen terrorists attack assorted locations in India – with well over 100 people killed in this tragic event.

Over the last month – I’ve seen our country rally to elect it’s first African American president – which in and of itself, is a wonderful thing to see (…and I’m a Republican).  It does say great things about our country and race relations relative to just a generation ago.

Over the last quarter – I’ve seen my son’s high school football team win their division championships…and come in second at the national level – all the while watching him win an All Conference award.

Over the last year – we’ve made countless new friends and customers as our company, LOCALJOBS.COM has seen double the growth in the new market of Knoxville Tennessee. Furthermore, despite the difficult economy around most of the country – Asheville NC jobs have actually shown growth year over year. Quite a feat to say the least….way to go Asheville.

My health is good (even though I have a few pounds to lose)….yes, it’s time to dust off the old treadmill – but hey, at least I can walk. I can’t say the same for others.  Some service men coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan are not so lucky this year. I’m thankful for their service to our country and for the lives that they have liberated in the process.

My children are doing well in school – despite the occassional notices from my 9 year old’s teacher informing us that he is…well, rather exuberant in class. Some call this being a boy….I happen to agree. His older brother (the middle of three) is finishing his senior year and his mother and I are both happy and sad as we realize his time living with us is ending, yet his new life also beginning.  Our oldest son has given us two beautiful grandchildren and one wonderful daughter-in-law.  All blessings….

So, this Thanksgiving – I think that despite the fact my Tennessee Volunteers football team had one of it’s worst seasons on record – I consider myself quite blessed indeed. And, I realize that on my worst of days I have MUCH to be thankful about.

I hope that all of us can slow down long enough to realize just how blessed we really are.