You could have a great positioning strategy, superb experience and education, a great resume, and a dynamic cover letter, but none of these will get you an interview, let alone a job offer, without a plan to distribute this information to employers.

For all college graduates, there are several channels of distribution -- several methods of seeking employment.

Networking. Of all your channels of distribution, your network of contacts is by far the biggest strength you have -- and the channel with which the vast majority of job-seekers get jobs and learn more about career opportunities. Don't know much about the power of networking? Read Networking Your Way to a New Job. What can you do to strengthen your current network?

Career Services Office. Whether you're currently a college student or an alum, the professionals in your college's career services office should be able to help you in a variety of ways, from helping you with career planning to connecting you with key contacts. Consider reading, It’s Never Too Early -- or Too Late -- to Visit Your College Career Office.

Company Job Postings/Recruitment Advertising. If you have a specific set of companies or a specific geographic location where you would like to live, begin checking out the availability of organization job postings. Don't count on this channel; many jobs that are posted on company job boards are often already filled. To find specific companies, check out our Company Career Centers Directory.

Cold Contacts (also referred to as the hidden market). The great majority of job openings never get posted or advertised, so your goal is to have great timing and a great marketing package. Check out the section in Dynamic Cover Letters or read this article regarding strategies for finding the hidden job market.

Alumni. Often an overlooked source, your college's alumni can be a great source of job and career information. You might not have thought about it, but many alumni are in positions to hire fellow graduates. Contact your college's career services or alumni office for more details. How do you think you can you best use this channel?

Job-hunting on the Web. One of the hottest trends in employment, though not anywhere near the best method of finding a job. For the best resources and advice, you need to visit Quintessential Careers. Specifically, make sure you review the Guide to Job-Hunting on the Internet and our list of The Top 10 Job Web Sites. What's the best strategy for using the Web for job-searching and career development?

Career Fairs and Job Expos. A great networking and job-lead source for students and job-seekers alike is a career fair. A career fair is a chance for a company to meet and screen a large volume of potential job candidates while simultaneously an opportunity for job-seekers to meet and screen a large number of employers. Most colleges have at least one annually, and large metropolitan areas often have several per year. Check out our Career Fair Tutorial, as well as all of our Job Expo and Career Fair Resources.

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