Network like a banshee.
"Before you go to bed tonight, write down the names of everyone you know," suggests Butler. "Then, first thing in the morning, try to double that list"—you may suddenly remember how someone on your first list is friends with X, who runs such and such firm, which would be the perfect place to work. Alumni groups—from schools to your last company—are also good sources of contacts. And it's helpful to keep your professional memberships current.
