If you or someone you know has made a New Year's resolution to get a new job, I have one good piece of advice – stop looking for job openings. Yes, you read that correctly – structuring your activities around trying to locate suitable job openings increases your frustration level, as well as the likelihood that almost every day will end without reward.

Following is an accurate definition of a “job opening” that I recently came across: “When someone within a company, dies, quits, gets fired or moves up and no one in the company wants the job, an opening is created.” At this time, the employer makes a decision to advertise—and the competition begins!

The numbers vary, but as many as 85% of all job opportunities are never advertised. If you only look for job openings, you may be throwing away opportunities to meet more people, increase your visibility, and position yourself as a solution to an employer's problem – instead of a problem in search of a solution.

If you spend your day looking for openings, and find none, your search is over and your day is complete. Or you may find an opening and then cast it off—“it's too far away” – “it does not pay enough” – “they want someone with more education/experience” – “I know someone who worked there and they did not like it “. The self-imposed roadblocks keep mounting, and opportunity keeps slipping away.

My recommendation: structure every action you take around a more rewarding goal – to get an interview. Ideally, you should strive to have 20-30 interviews a week.

“It can't be done” you might be thinking; “I keep sending out my resume and no one calls me”. It's time you retire your outdated definition of an interview as something that happens to you as a result of an employer reading your resume and giving you a call.

Get on board with 21 st century career management terminology and strategies—an interview is any conversation with anyone about your profession, industry or target list of companies and the skills, experience and knowledge you bring to the table. Conversations, which you initiate— to gather and share information, increase your visibility and position yourself for opportunities as they unfold.

Information about your profession: What are the current trends? What skills are currently in high demand? What training or education is required to remain marketable? What is a realistic wage for someone with your skills and experience in the geographic region where you are targeting your search?

Information about your industry: What changes are taking place in your target industry? Are employment opportunities on the rise, or is the industry becoming obsolete? How does globalization impact your industry? Who are the industry leaders – and industry lagers?

Information about you target companies: What are their products or services? Who are their competitors? How long have they been in business? What is their current financial status? Are they growing or downsizing? What are the current issues they are struggling with and their goals and objectives for the coming year? What is the company culture? What is their organizational structure and does it include the kinds of positions you would be interested in? What is their pay scale and what is included in a typical compensation package? What do you have to offer the company to help them save time, better serve their customers and make more money? Are there other companies you can add to your target list of employers or people you can include in your network of contacts?

Structure your daily activities around setting up interviews, talking to people, gathering information and communicating who you are, what you do and what you can do for an employer . Opportunity will knock on your door because of your efforts.

Make interviewing your number one goal – your new job is waiting to unfold.