Dale: We love to pass along the insights of those who are exiting the job market because they’ve landed terrific new employment.

J.T.: We recently heard from Brad DeYoung, an operations manager, who took the time to assemble a list of advice for other job hunters, and we’re pleased to pass along Brad’s wisdom:

. Approach anyone you are calling with the intent of finding information on others to call and expand your network. This was a key finding: People feel bad if they cannot help you, so help them feel good by asking for info on key target companies or types of companies instead of asking them directly to employ you … if they have a job you fit, they will offer it.

. Don’t fall into the trap where everyone says that the job boards are a wasted effort. I got my leads from job boards by reading between the lines about prospective company openings and expansions. Perhaps a job-board posting results in a glut of applicants — that’s where your personal network helps, to get your resume in through an alternate method.

. Prepare a written marketing statement for your network. Of the 100 or so people I felt were my “network,” even people I have known for years did not have a clear understanding of what I did for a living and, especially, what my greatest talents are.

. Amazingly, I got great advice from some people I cold-called off a reference or from info gleaned from an article or off the Web. I was inspired by people I’d never met or will ever meet and who had nothing to gain by helping me, but who took the time to try to help me.

Dale: That’s great advice, from someone we haven’t met and who had nothing to gain by taking the time to help us help our readers.

J.T.: That inspires us, Brad. Thank you, and we hope others will follow your example and will pass along their knowledge and success stories.

© 2008 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.