By MARVIN WALBERG, Scripps Howard News Service

Finally -- I open the Sunday newspaper and see something positive regarding job seekers, rather than the usual negative news about unemployment and loss of jobs. I was so excited!

The following tips are taken from an article written for executives who are 50 or older and have lost their jobs. Most recruiters and companies admit privately that they are significantly less interested in hiring executives over 50.

My wife and daughter love the cable TV show "What Not To Wear," and they record episodes so they can have marathons while I sit on the sofa and make obnoxious comments about what the hosts are wearing. For the most part I am joking, but I am a job search coach and part of what I do is teach people how to make good first impressions.

The average time it takes to rebound from unemployment varies according to a job seeker's location and demographic. In general, though, most people are unable to secure a good job as quickly as they would like. In today's competitive job market, it's not unusual for job seekers to spend several weeks, months or even a year or more looking for work.

Dear Mr. Walberg: After receiving my degree, I am trying to transition from the job I held during my school days to a career, but I am just not receiving any response from inquiries and fear my resume may be to blame. I have three different, yet related, career interests and each is complimented by my education and experience, but I seem to be getting nowhere.

Job-hunting tactics that worked even a few years ago may appear passe, while using fresh strategies can help professionals stand out among a large applicant pool, say experts at OfficeTeam, a staffing firm in Menlo Park, Calif.

In 2012, I wish for the press and politicians to stop talking about job loss and unemployment numbers -- we all know that the economy needs several transfusions. But, when the focus is on how high the unemployment numbers are and how few jobs are being created, we are giving excuses to job seekers with current work skills to take their feet off of the pedal and blame others.

Alison Green, writing for US News and World Report, contributed an interesting piece -- "10 Myths About Job Searching." I will share some of this piece with you.

Myth: You need connections in order to get a job.

Many students, anticipating graduation from college in spring 2012, are considering applying for internships, and sometimes a second internship, instead of going for "the job" first. Reason?

-- To test an industry for interest and to make sure this is a field to pursue.

-- To accrue more experience in a particular industry before going for "the job."

In today's workplace, with today's economy, employers, HR professionals, recruiters, and your network contacts are more than likely a little stressed with global competition, reduced workforce, and constant demands for productivity. To add one more cliche, "waste your own time if you like, but don't waste someone else's" particularly when you are trying to sell yourself.