TACOMA, WA -- Forget just about everything you think you know about finding a job. "Many changes have happened in the job market since 20 years ago, since 10 years ago - since last October," said Paul Anderson, a former hiring manager for Microsoft and Expedia. He believes that job hunters need to understand human behavior and outfox this new system. He offers a few ways to tackle a job search in the new world.

First, scrap the elevator pitch. "Why the elevator pitch doesn't work," Anderson said, "is that nobody cares about you. They care about themselves. You have to change your mindset from self-serving to serving others." That means finding out what need you can fill for the recruiters. Second, at job fairs, don't bring a sheaf of resumes and hand them out to recruiters like Halloween candy. Instead, get business cards from the recruiters. Ask them what kinds of jobs they need to fill and what kind of candidates they like.

Third, leverage online social networks, such as LinkedIn.com, to connect with as many people as possible. Online networks allow you to find and seek advice from contacts who work for the companies you have targeted for your job search, it allows others to endorse you, and it allows you to post specific information about the job you want, Anderson said.