Now leaving the Jobless Zone

That's what I'm saying.

I’m happy to report that I just landed a new job. And after navigating a six-month job search, I can’t help but think of Hillary Clinton’s famous phrase, “It takes a village.”

So many people helped me in the process of getting hired, and I remain an evangelist of networking as the best strategy for finding a new job. Outplacement services from Right Management and social-networking activities on LinkedIn helped a lot, but people in my sphere of contacts made the difference.

I’ve been hired by the same company that laid me off – Yahoo! – but in a different corporate unit. (I understand this is not uncommon in large companies today.) I’m very excited to take on the role of Senior Editor of Yahoo! Small Business.

While getting laid off was an awful experience six months ago, I’m glad I didn’t burn any bridges. Former Yahoo! colleagues first alerted me to this new job weeks before it was posted.

We all know the hiring climate is really tough these days, even downright discouraging. That’s why it’s crucial to involve others in your job search; you will need the help. Use LinkedIn, go to networking events, meet with former colleagues and talk up your job search. Today it takes a village to get a new job.

Other lessons I learned in the Jobless Zone:

• Take a break!
• A hidden cost lurked in my job loss
• Why you should check your spam folder
• Some cheap, healthy dinners are easy to make

I expect to continue to post useful, fun, or random things on this blog. In the meantime, if you have any small-business ideas or topics you think I should focus on in my new role, please let me know. Watch for some great new content at Yahoo! Small Business!

Now I can wear these shirts again!