Five out of six Americans plan to look for a new position in 2011, according to a survey by Manpower. If you are one of them, consider the 10 common mistakes made by job hunters and how to avoid them, offered by Kathyrn Ullrich, a Silicon Valley executive search consultant and author of "Strategies for Career Success" (Silicon Valley Press, 2010).

1. Playing the generalist card

Design your job search around specific industries and functions: specialize!

2. Bloated resumes

Employers scan resumes in seconds. Remove extraneous words and phrases to bring your experiences and accomplishments to the forefront.

3. Missing your target

Focus on your target. Know the job you're seeking, what companies are looking for, and how you can present your experience to win people's attention.

4. Hibernating online

Get out and connect with your network and other people you encounter along the way. Share your 15-second "elevator pitch" with everyone, whether you're at a major networking event or a checkout lane at the supermarket.

5. Misguided networking efforts

The first commandment for networkers is: Thou shalt not ask for a job while networking. The sole purpose of networking is to seek advice and information.

6. Preparing too little -- or not at all -- for interviews

Before every interview, do your homework on the company, from knowing the executive team to learning about key industry issues, trends, and competitors.

7. Missed opportunities on social media

Employers and recruiters look at your profile online: Linked In, Facebook, and other social networking Web sites. Watch the appropriateness of what you post online and take it one step further: present your personal brand. You won't always have a chance to verbally tell your story (including any time spent between jobs) so tell it online and tout your brand.

8. Weak communication skills

Pick one area of communication that needs your attention, like listening, presenting, persuading, or distilling messages and commit to improvement. Take a class, hold "practice interviews" with a friend or career coach, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

9. Failing to put in the hours

Job searching is a full-time position. Don't be a part-timer by investing too few hours in your search.

10. Going it alone

Form a job search team that meets or talks on a weekly basis. Together, you can create structure and support for your searches plus help spur accountability.

Kathryn Ullrich can be contacted at info@ullrichassociates.com.

Marvin Walberg is a job search coach. Contact him at mwalberg@bellsouth.net, marvinwalberg.blogspot.com, or PO Box 43056, Birmingham, AL 35243.

Many job seekers mistakenly believe that hiring halts during the holiday season, but, according to career consultant and author Jean Baur, November and December are not dead zones in the job market.

"If you're out there working the job market when others aren't, you've got an advantage. You have less competition. You'll stand out," Baur says. "And in addition, it's the people who are using winter holiday parties to network who will be working sooner than those who give up and stay home to bake cookies."

In her book "Eliminated! Now What?: Finding Your Way from Job-Loss Crisis to Career Resilience," Baur offers the following tips for navigating the job market during the holidays:

Do:

-- Take advantage of the holiday season to send out e-cards to your network that briefly update them on your status in the job search.

-- Use the holidays as an opportunity to connect with others. This could mean inviting your neighbors over for dessert and coffee, organizing an outing for your children and some of their friends or helping a friend with a project. These activities should be fun, but they're also opportunities to keep your network expanding and current.

-- Rely on evidence and not hearsay to determine your direction. Pay attention to what's working and what's not in your search, and adjust your strategy.

Don't:

-- Let myths about lack of hiring during the holiday season lull you into sitting around.

-- Take others' opinions literally. In an effort to be comforting, people may say things like, "There are no jobs out there -- especially now." Remember, you only need one job, and hiring happens all the time.

-- Stop. This is a process that takes preparation, persistence, patience and courage. Keep at it.

-- Expect instantaneous results. Most job seekers find that they have to lay the foundation before very much happens. So it might feel as if you're working really hard without any results, but very often this changes quickly.

Enjoy the holidays. Celebrate and network -- and do what others fail to do!