After 15 years in online recruiting, we know a lot about finding a job online. Here's how to find one as fast as possible.

Get Ready

Before you get started, there are a couple of things you need.

First, you need a new email address. You're going to be casting a very wide net, and that's inevitably going to cause your email address to get into the wrong hands at some point along the way. Once that happens, it's all over. Spammers will lay waste to that email account you've had for so long.

So don't risk it. Sign up for a free email address that you can throw away once this is all over and use it for everything you do in this process. (We like Gmail.)

Second, you need a great resume. Many of the hiring managers who will be reviewing your resume to see if it makes it to the next level are reviewing resumes for hundreds of jobs and are literally going through thousands of resumes every week. You need to do everything you can to stand out, or you risk falling through the cracks.

For this, you need to bring in a professional with years of experience crafting perfect resumes. It will cost you a little up front, but the payoff in the long run more than makes up for it – just make sure you use a service that offers a money-back guarantee. (We like Resume2Hire.)

Cast the Net

Alright, now you have a throwaway email address and a great-looking resume. What's next?

Get Your Resume Out There

Post your resume on lots of reputable sites – both the large, general sites like CareerBuilder and Monster, as well as sites that specialize in your particular field. 80% of positions are filled without the job ever being advertised, so you need to make sure that you can be found.

Make sure each site protects who can see your resume, though, and doesn't leave it open to being found by criminals around the world. You would be shocked at how many are trolling resume databases from locations as far flung as Nigeria and Malaysia with the sole purpose of finding unsuspecting victims. (More on that later.)

Set Up Job Alerts

The early bird gets the worm, so you're going to want to stay on top of new job postings. Most of the sites you posted your resume on will offer job alerts that will email you when new jobs are posted that match your criteria. Take advantage of them so that you don't have to go back to the site day after day checking to see if something new has been posted.

Work Your Network

If you're not part of LinkedIn, you need to be. There's no easier way to connect with people who might know of something that's open. Check out their job seeker resources to find out how to make the most of all they offer.

Be Careful!

There is seemingly no end to the number of people actively taking advantage of people who need a job, so you need to always be on your guard. If the "employer" requires you to pay any sort of fee to apply for the job or needs information about your bank account, it's probably a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Create Your Own Position

While you're waiting to land that next job, work on creating your own position. Ramit Sethi has a wealth of resources that give you the information you need to pull yourself by your own bootstraps and start generating income without a job. You may find that you end up not needing that new job after all.

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Questions? Suggestions? Comments? Let us know!