Valentine’s Day is around the corner so it’s time to spread the love.

Happy New Year! 2012 is here and people around the world are looking for ways to better themselves for the coming year. If your job search isn’t panning out the way you had hoped, perhaps you should designate some time to reflect upon what’s working and where there is room for improvement. Here are several new year’s resolutions that could have an impact on your success rate.

Recruiting Raya is introducing a new, bi-weekly series called Ask a Recruiter. In these blog posts, we’ll give our readers insider advice about the topics you’re most interested in. We’ll feature an interview with one of AKRAYA’s experienced recruiters to give job seekers the info they want – straight from a recruiter’s mouth. You want answers? We’ve got them.

Whether you’re currently employed or not, receiving a call from a recruiter about a job position is always a surprise. You may wonder how they found your resume, or want them to answer more of your questions before you answer theirs. Either way, how you handle the next few minutes of your interaction could work for or against your favor.

Some industries are famous for ramping up their hiring as the holiday season approaches. The retail industry responds to the flurry of holiday traffic by bulking up their staff, as does the airline industry. But what if your occupation’s hiring cycles aren’t cut so precisely?

With all of its ups and downs, a long term job search can become quite tiring. Sometimes it can feel like your efforts are futile, but don’t despair! Instead, turn to a few of the following tips to keep your spirits positive.