The Early Show

Find Your Perfect Job In '07

By Caitlin Johnson

January 2, 2007 / 9:37 AM EST / CBS

According to Vera Gibbons of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, a survey found that 75 percent of American workers plan to look for a new job this year. Now, she said, is the time to start the hunt.

"The opportunities pop up all year long being but, yes, the heaviest hiring generally takes place at the beginning of the year," she told The Early Show correspondent Tracy Smith. "They fire at the end of the year and hire for new."

She said now is a good time to start looking because even though job growth is slowing due contraction in the housing and auto sectors, it has been offset by some growth in the service industry.

"We're expecting 1.3 million jobs to be created this year," she said. "CareerBuilder found 40 percent of employers will be hiring full-time employees this year. It's not a bad time, it's not great, it's OK. "

Gibbons offered some tips to find a job that suits you.

Do what you like: Gibbons said that people spend half their lives in the workplace and that they should be happy and fulfilled with their career.

Prioritize your options: "Write down five to 10 things important to you in a job, a career," Gibbons said. "Take a look at your goals, dreams and put together a plan to reach those goals. You're more inclined to get there if you have a plan in place."

Make that resume stand out: "Employers only spend 10 seconds looking at your resume," Gibbons said. "On average for 245 resumes, they only interview one person for every 245 resumes. It's competitive." Gibbons said keep the resume short and to the point and focus on your measurable accomplishments. Highlight skills and experiences that are relevant.

Network: Look online for opportunities, but also hand out resumes to your friends and acquaintances.