Digital technology in today’s business world is both a blessing and a curse. Web sites like Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com have greatly increased the number of job openings you can track and the professional contacts you can make. E-mail and smart phones make it easier to pitch yourself and set up appointments. But don’t underestimate the power of old-world skills. Career counseling experts advise job seekers – especially the young and tech-savvy – don’t misuse electronic gadgets and forget about professional etiquette.
 
Here’s some advice as you look for a new job:

1. Avoid e-mail blasts. Resist the temptation to respond to each online job listing in your field, and focus on those that fit the best. Only about 6% of jobs are filled by candidates recruited through print and online ads. If you can use personal contacts to learn about an opening that's not widely publicized, your chances of landing the job increase because you've got fewer rivals.
2. Embrace snail mail. The first contact with a prospective employer is very important. Chances of standing out lessen when you send your resume attached to an e-mail. E-mails are also too easy for a hiring manager to delete. With snail mail, you control the appearance of your carefully crafted cover letter and resume.
3. Get personal. If you resort to e-mail pitches, make them personal. If you're introducing yourself to a hiring manager you've identified via a professional colleague, type that colleague's name in the e-mail's subject line and succinctly explain the link so the manager is less likely to hit delete.
4. Avoid follow-up foibles. If you land an interview, pay close attention if the hiring manager specifies how to make any follow-up contacts. E-mail can be a good option because of its speed; if you send a follow-up note via snail mail, it may arrive too late in the hiring process to make a difference. If the hiring manager is OK with e-mail, send a message that addresses any unanswered questions from the interview and state that you're also mailing a hardcopy. In the snail mail message, reference that you also sent the e-mail.
5. Observe boundaries. Even if you managed to track down a hiring manager's cell phone number, don't call it unless given permission.
6. Stick with land lines. For any phone contact with a prospective employer, try to use a land line. With cell phones, there's too great a risk that you'll get a spotty connection, lose it altogether, or end up with excessive background noise if you're in a public place. If you lack a land line, call from a quiet place. And be prepared – have pen and paper ready to go.
7. Network the smart way. If you identify a hiring manager or other professional you'd like to connect with on an online networking site, don't merely send an electronic invitation without explaining why you want to get in touch. Find a way to make a connection and personalize the message.
8. Manage your digital footprint. Hiring managers can be expected to go beyond your resume and references, and perform a background check online. So be judicious about what you post on social networking sites such as Facebook, and limit access to friends and family if it's something you wouldn't want an employer to see. Likewise, think before posting political opinions or personal information in blogs or other online forums. Consider posting under a pseudonym rather than your name.