It's no secret that the Technology Job Market is taking off again!    Are you getting calls from recruiters trying to woo you away from your current job and into a great opportunity?  In today's online recruitment platform, if you are not hearing from potential companies and recruiters, chance are that you are "hiding beneath the surface" and away from the advanced search techniques utilized to find great candidates.  Is that where you want to be?  You may not be actively searching for a job, but who doesn't want to hear about fantastic opportunities-especially after the very long drought we've experienced over the past 2 years!  If you are not quite ready to begin the arduous process of looking for a job, but would like to make yourself more visible to potential opportunities, here are a few tips and tools to help you in the process.

Step 1.  Analyze Your Current Situation

Take some time to think about your current role, responsibilities and company, as well as your career goals.  Are they in line?  Do you enjoy your work?  Challenging projects and assignments on the horizon?  Ask yourself, "If I were to make a change, what would I be looking to accomplish?" Maybe you will find that you are right where you should be, and maybe not.  Through a better understanding of your career goals, you will recognize good opportunities as they present themselves-internal and external.

Step 2.  Update Your Resume

Dust off the old resume and bring it up to date using current standards.  There are many resumes assistance sites on the net, including resume-help.org  which includes many free and pay tools.  Review your recent accomplishments, projects you are most proud of, technologies you've learned and add them in.  This process will help you to take stock in your career, and you will have a resume together for potential opportunities.

Step 3.  Reach Out to a Select Group of Recruiters and Colleagues

If you have developed a relationship with a specific recruiter in the past, someone you trust to look out for your best interests, contact them.  Also ask your colleagues for referrals of recruiters that they trust. Share your resume and career goals with the recruiter. Let them know that, although you are not actively looking for a position, you'd like to be kept informed of good potential opportunities as they arise. This is an ideal situation for a recruiter.

Step 4.  Create and/or Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is fast becoming the tool of choice for many top recruiters and job seekers alike. It's a great forum for presenting and sharing professional information and it allows users visibility to recruiters and potential hiring managers-all without lifting a finger or publicly stating, "I am looking for a job".   Provide  technical and professional details to your profile (similar to your resume), and set yourself apart with references.  Our observation is that Bay Area/Silicon Valley Engineers and Technologists have this down-great profiles, lots of details, easy to find-whether they are looking or not.  Beef up your profile and let the opportunities find you.

Step 5.  "Hide" Your Resume Where It Can Be Found

If you are in the midst of an active job search, by all means post your resume to the career site of your choice-Dice, Careerbuilder, etc.  If, however, you are in a more passive mode, there are locations you can place your resume where it will be found by the most serious headhunters and recruiters.  Attach your resume to college Alumni sites, personal home pages, blogs, Professional Organizations, User Groups, etc.  At PSRi, we love to use our database of over 8,000+ outstanding technology candidates (of which you are one) that we've built over the past  15 years, but we also conduct advanced web searches to find just the right person for our clients.

As the number of technology openings throughout California continues to grow, the demand for outstanding technology talent will quickly outweigh the supply of active job seekers.  Recruiters and hiring managers alike will be reaching out more and more to the "passive candidate" for their openings.  With a little effort on your part, you can ensure that you are being considered and contacted for great opportunities!