Here's a question to start your week, Readers: When you're on the job hunt, where should you look first?

Should you look to TheLadders.com's network of $100K+ recruiters?

Should you look to your personal and professional networks?

Should you look to career experts on TheLadders.com and elsewhere?

Those are all important places to look, folks, but the very first place I'd like you to look is into a mirror.

I've given this job hunting success advice before, but it bears repeating: Buy a mirror and keep it by the phone. Look into it just before you make those networking and interviewing calls to sharpen up the most important tool in your arsenal – your smile.

Nobody ever said it's easy to get out there and really sell yourself. Uncertainty can creep into your head, and the person on the other end of the line can hear it in your voice. But if you're smiling, physiology says your attitude will follow. "Hey, if I'm smiling, I must be enjoying myself!"

So take a good, long look in that mirror, and give yourself a big, friendly grin. You'll feel better, and that means you'll sound better to your next employer.

And who knows? You may even find those calls feel like fun!

Keep smiling, Readers, all the way to that new job. I'm smiling for you, too!

Warmest regards,

Marc Cenedella
Founder & CEO
TheLadders.com, Inc.