Welcome to the 2012 job hunting season, its officially open with the new year and the first day back to work.

January is almost always the busiest hiring month of the year thanks to new budgets being unleashed into the recruiting wild. Many of you will be looking for a new gig this year so here's what you really NEED to know about today's job market.

1. Hiring will be better than last year. Economists expect an average of 175,000 new jobs to be created each month. Things are slowly getting better.

2. The resume black hole still exists. Even if you submit your resume into an ATS (applicant tracking system) its always a good idea to find another way into the company and get your resume in front of an actual person.

3. It's still a "buyers market", at least in most industries. Many employers are still looking for an 'exact DNA match" to their open positions.

4. Age discrimination is still rampant. You need to fight it. Here are some links to help.

5. It's always better to have your resume written by a professional resume writer. Make an investment, get it done.

6. Hiring cycles are still long and drawn out. Be patient after your first interview. There are lots of variables that go into making a hiring decision.

7. When search for jobs online, ignore the job date. If its 2-3 weeks old there is still a very good chance the job is still open and the company is still interviewing.

8. When using job search engines realize they aren't as inclusive as you think. They now only index those companies/job boards that pay them. You still need to seek out the niche and local job boards in your field. You must maximize your search.

9. Tap the hidden job market. Look for companies that are growing and take any job to get your foot in the door. You'll have more job security in the long run. Here's a tool to help.

10. Realize technology is changing the way we work. You need to keep up with it. Don't be left behind.

11. Understand that ALL jobs are now temporary. There is no more lifetime job security. You need to plan ahead, keep your skills sharp, and always, always be learning.

Thanks for reading and happy hunting everyone. Go get'em!