jobs

If you've got friends, family (or both) and you're looking for a job, you're sitting on a treasure trove of employment tips and tricks. To gain access to them, all you have to do is ask.

That's because, if these people work, they said or did something right. Or else they wouldn't be working. So stop trying to reinvent the wheel and start emulating what's worked for others.

Here are four questions to ask your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers (past and present) to shorten your job search ...

Question Number One: How did you find out about the job you have now?

I'll wager that at least six of every 10 people you ask will answer: "I heard about this job from someone I knew." In other words, networking got them hired. If so, ask if you can be introduced to that same networking contact!

But no matter what answer you get, you're doing two smart things by asking this question.

First, it's an excuse to let people know you're in the job market, which can produce employment leads all by itself.

Second, when you ask anyone for advice like this, you flatter that person. Which makes them more likely to return the favor by sending you job leads later.

Neat, huh? But wait -- there are three more questions ...