Abridged: Los Angeles Times

Want to know the secret to landing your dream job? Hard work.

Getting hired is all about doggedness and focus. It means throwing yourself out there over and over again and facing rejection.

Along the way, there are important things you should do:

· Post your résumé online

But remember, some employers want to hold your physical resume in their hands. Meanwhile, accept that there are virtues to going digital — those being that it’s easy, fast and puts you in the nice position of being immediately accessible.

· Apply directly to a company, online and off

Many companies post openings on their Web sites, but responding blind could land your application in a “black hole,” says Gary Kaplan, founder of Gary Kaplan & Associates, a Pasadena, executive search company. Do it the old-fashioned way too: “Get the name of someone and write to that person.”

· Tap the “hidden” job market

Tell relatives, friends, friends of friends, trusted colleagues, your rabbi, your uncle’s dentist, the deli clerk — almost anyone and practically everyone — that you are on a job hunt. For all the sweep of the Internet, the word-of-mouth route, also known as networking, is still invaluable. If you don’t know about a position, you can’t apply for it.

· Contact a recruiter

Employers hire executive search companies to help them find high-level managers. These companies find prospects by combing through their résumé databases, soliciting résumés and calling hot shots they hear about from former clients. And many headhunters will be happy to hear from you. The Directory of Executive Recruiters — known as the Red Book — is available in libraries and bookstores and lists virtually every recruiter in the country.

· Prepare for the interview — and brush your teeth

Spend time on the company’s Web site, check out their annual report, company news and the biographies of the people interviewing you. Be prepared to explain why you want the job and why you’re the one they should hire. Be able to explain every item on your résumé. Dress professionally; leave the bling-bling at home, take out the nose stud, and make sure your suit — yes, suit — is clean and pressed. Shake hands, make eye contact and send a thank-you note.

· Be patient

This may be the toughest assignment of all. Despite all her efforts, Victoria Young admits to being discouraged at times, especially when she hears of friends who’ve already gotten job offers. “But I have to take myself out of that anxiety,” she says. “I have to remind myself that I have to stay positive.”

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