Talk to anyone looking for work, and chances are you’ll hear something like:

“It’s hard to find a good job.” “The economy stinks.” “No one is hiring.” “I’m over 40 – who would hire me?” “Looking for work is a full-time job, and no one ever said it was easy.”

It’s attitudes like these, combined with widely-used but ineffective and inherently self-defeating job hunting techniques, that are keeping highly trained, qualified and educated people unemployed or underemployed, says Janet White, author of “Secrets of the Hidden Job Market: Change Your Thinking to Get the Job of Your Dreams“. www.jobmarketsecrets.com

The book is geared for experienced white-collar professionals, managers, technical people and executives who are now having trouble getting hired and don't know why, and for new professionals without much experience seeking those first few starter jobs.

Unlike other job hunting books, "Secrets of the Hidden Job Market" goes beyond the "how-to's;" its premise is that a job seeker’s feelings, beliefs and assumptions – about themselves, the job hunting process and the people they will contact – will determine how easy or difficult it will be for them to land their dream job, even before they take the first step.

"If you believe you're in competition with lots of other people for a limited number of jobs, then that's the experience you will have," Ms. White says.

"But if you stop trying to ‘sell yourself’ and instead allow your future boss to ‘buy you,’ you’ll have a totally different experience – new doors will open, great opportunities will come your way out of the blue, and you’ll effortlessly connect with the right people who will be eager to know you.

“Getting hired doesn’t have to be difficult, complicated or arduous, but many job seekers believe it does, and so it is for them.”