Looking for a job? Want a better one?

Labor Day is coming up after all. Career counselor Ford Myers, president of Haverford, Pa.-based Career Potential LLC, used the date as a cue to send The Bee some tips "to rev up your career."

"There really couldn't be a better time than September to launch a professional job search," he said in a statement."Hiring managers are back in their offices making employment decisions for the fall and early 2009."

1. Create and Control Your Internet Image. Whether it's LinkedIn, You Tube, Face Book, or VisualCV, every professional should have an online presence. Many employers research job candidates on the Internet before making hiring decisions. Therefore, it is vitally important that you take control of your online identity and carefully monitor the "personal brand" you're building on the Internet.

2. Invest in Career Coaching. It might seem that career coaching would be a luxury in this difficult economic climate. Actually, this might be the best time to get some short-term, high-impact coaching in a program like Career QuickStart™. A qualified Career Coach can help you get totally clear on your objective, differentiate yourself from the competition, market yourself effectively, get the offer, and negotiate the best compensation.

3. Tune into the Network. September is one of the best times of the year to make new connections and find new opportunities. With everyone returning from vacation and re-focusing on work, there are many fall networking events, planning meetings, and social group happenings.

4. Perform an Internal Career Audit. Fall is a perfect time to take an honest look at your career - where you've been, where you are today, and where you'd like to go. Identify new goals based on your own definition of career success, and then take action.

5. Update Your Career "Tool Kit." Most job seekers use only their résumé as the cornerstone of their search because their other "tools" are weak or nonexistent. But there are many other documents you should have in your "Career Tool Kit," including your accomplishment stories, positioning statement, target company list, contact list, professional references, and letters of recommendation. These items are important not just to land the next job, but to maximize long-term career success.