Even though the economy is recovering, recession and restructuring have permanently changed the way successful job searchers approach the task of finding employment. Many individuals who have been successful in their job search have adjusted the process to accommodate the recent recession and the continuing restructuring. Informal, external methods have taken on added importance as strategies for locating jobs. Those college students who have had positive job search outcomes used many of these strategies: they started early; they acquired job experience through internships and cooperative education; instead of waiting for employers to come to campus, they went directly to them; they made hunting for a job a full-time job; and they made use of all networks and connections. White-collar managers and employees who have successfully reentered the job market have often used these strategies: they approached their job search as if it were a full-time job; to tap into the hidden or unpublished job market, they made extensive use of their networks; they also used formal methods; and they turned to temporary or part-time work. The following conclusions are based on commonalities between contemporary job search strategies for new college graduates and for laid-off, white-collar workers: work experience pays off; finding a job must be thought of as a job; networking is essential; and use of information technology is the "wave of the future." (Contains 15 references.) (YLB)