I received a postcard in the mail which said that the Postal Service had temporary work available for the holiday season. The USPS isn't the only employer that needs employees to handle extra holiday work.

Despite the downturn in the economy, the holiday season is still the busiest retail season of the year, and employers are hiring additional staff to deliver packages, run cash registers, and stock shelves.

If you're interested in earning some extra money, don't wait to start your seasonal job search. Remember, that you can apply online for jobs at the Post Office, delivery companies, retail stores, and other companies that hire seasonal staff. And, for those of you who would rather be outside on the ski slopes, ski resorts are hiring now, as well.

More: FedEx | Macy's | Sears | Target | UPS | WalMart | USPS | More Companies

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Perhaps you have lost your job (especially if you have a severance package to spend) or you're tired of the rat race, or maybe you're thinking about doing something different with the rest of your life. If it's any of the above, you might want to consider spending a few days on a VocationVacation.

A VocationVacation is a way to try a new career on a short-term basis. Options range from trying out being a vineyard owner, a brew master or a baker, to acting, running a B&B, or a variety of other options - even working on the Pro Wresting circuit. Check the Currently Available list for all the options. If there is a dream job you've always wanted to try, this is a good way to give it a shot without having to commit.

You can book your VocationVacation just like you do any other vacation. There's an online form you can complete or you can call to request your dream job.

Brian Kurth, President and Founder of VocationVacations, told me that, "We're seeing more and more people taking a VocationVacation out of pure career exploration vs. "just for fun" and we're seeing a 25% increase in inquiries coming from people who have been laid off or are facing a possible lay-off."

We spend a big chunk of our life working, so it certainly makes sense, if you can afford it, to spend a bit on a vacation where you could can idea of what it's really like working at your dream job.

More: Changing Careers in Midstream | Cool Jobs

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Given the difficult job market, anything you can do to give yourself an edge on the competition is worth the extra effort it might take to improve your chances of securing an interview. For example, VisualCV's Director of Marketing, Pierce Resler, shared a job opening with me yesterday. The directions on how to apply included sharing your VisualCV with Pierce.

A colleague shared another job opening via LinkedIn that stated that "Referrals through network preferred" and "Applicants with recommendations preferred." This means that the employer would like you to apply via LinkedIn using a referral and you should have recommendations in your profile when you apply.

It's time consuming, and a pain, to have to scramble to create a VisualCV or a LinkedIn profile and get references when you're hurrying to apply for a job. Instead, take some time now to create online profiles now. That way, you'll be positioned to apply when you see an interesting job lead, and you won't miss out on a good opportunity because you weren't prepared.

Also, take the time to build an online network, so you have connections you can use to help with your job applications.

More: Online Profiles | Social Networking

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I'm a list person. I have, I probably shouldn't admit, a variety of "to do" lists. I keep track of everything I need to do, at home and for work, on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Lists helps me keep organized and help me keep track of what I need to do and when I need to do it.

When you're in the midst of a job search, lists can be useful, too. It's hard to keep track of all the details, especially when you have a lot going on. There are tools like JibberJobber, which will help you manage every facet of your job search. Using JibberJobber is definitely a good way to keep track of all your job search activities.

There are also checklists you can use if you need help with just one component of your job search. The job search internet privacy checklist will help you keep track of your online presence. The resume proofing checklist will make sure your resume is perfect, and the cover letter checklist is worth using before you send out a cover letter.

If you've lost your job, use this job offer checklist to make sure that you're doing everything you should be to job search effectively. When you get a job offer, use the checklist to ensure that you have considered all the alternatives and weighed all the options prior to making a decision to accept the position.

I know that's quite a few lists, but checklists really are valuable job search tools. Sometimes, it can be easier to not to have to think about what you need to do. Instead, you can just run down the checklist to make sure that you've covered all the bases.

More: Resumes and Cover Letters | Job Search Checklists

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