It's getting increasingly competitive in the job market these days. With current unemployment figures ranging anywhere from 5% to 7.5%, depending on who you believe, the search for a decent, well paying job has become an undertaking which can quickly lead to disappointment. Job hunting is a different and exciting challenge these days. It is a far more specialized process now, than it has ever been before.

Because I have been invited by my employer to pursue our open position for an Industrial Production Manager, I have had an opportunity to get a special view of the hiring process, from both sides. Today's Human Resource Managers are a savvy bunch. They are highly trained and quite sophisticated. They have new tools and a multitude of new information sources. I'd like to share with you a few of the insights this opportunity to compete for position has provided for me.

These days, simply having a sharp resume isn't enough. Although a well prepared resume is essential, presentation alone won't win you an interview. Today's HR Managers are placing less emphasis upon what you have accomplished, while placing more emphasis upon how you'll fit in. In other words, they want to know more about what you can do for them than what you did for your previous employers or in school. Today's resume writers must adopt an in depth strategy of forward thinking. Quality resumes must now present a picture of future success.

Gone are the days when you could expect job hunting success by writing up one good resume and then carpet bombing a host of potential employers.

For American and Canadian cookie lovers alike, who happen to be near a Doubletree Hotel in early July -- take note of what I just learned: Canadians on Canada Day (July 1) and Americans on Independence Day (July 4) who enter a Doubletree Hotel for any reason at all -- will be treated to a free, freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie.

According to the Doubletree web site, the company gives away more than 29,000 chocolate chip cookies to its hotel guests every day. That's a lot of cookies. Since it began making people's day in this manner in the early '80s, the company estimates that it's given away some 125,000,000 cookies to guests and more than 750,000 to charity over the years.

Each Doubletree chocolate chip cookie is baked at the hotel, weighing in at 2 and a half ounces with an average of 20 chocolate chips.

If this doesn't get you traveling more, I don't know what will. At the very least, you should wander into one of the many Doubltree Hotel properties around the country, and ask them if you can use the bathroom. Be sure to pick up your free cookie on the way out. Your glass of cold milk, however, will cost extra.