Landing on a dream job takes more than just a resume. With stiff competition in a tight labor market, hiring specialists recommend job-seekers to go the extra mile in job-hunting, widely circulating one's resume and offering the advice: think like a headhunter.

The economic recession has changed the job application process, Skip Freeman, author of the "Headhunter’s Hiring Secrets" told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It’s harder to get your resume in front of a hiring manager. Job seekers have to get more skilled at breaking through the barriers that companies are putting up to screen applicants out," he said.

The news provider said job seekers should be clear of their value proposition. This way, they can save time by targeting only the companies that closely fit with their skills and, at the same time, easily present to recruiters what value they can bring to the company.

Freeman recommended that for effective marketing, job seekers need to know their product (you), pricing (salary range based on today’s market), promotional materials (resume, direct mail) and placement.

While targeted direct-mail could be time-consuming for some applicants, Freeman said that this channel has been found to have higher response rates than others. He added that applicants should also make effort to contact specific hiring managers through social networking sites and company websites.