If your job search strategy includes applying online to positions you discover through online sites, here are a few tips I picked up from an IDC conference on "Best Practices for Recruiting." This information is based on suggested practices for recruiters.

Monster.com reports peak job traffic between Sunday afternoon and Monday at noon. Each week, the highest percentage of applicants will apply between Sunday and Monday.

Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for most American workers. Therefore, Tuesday is the best day of the week to apply for a position--or to follow-up with a contact or prospective employer.

Two quick notes on how employers view your applications within resume databases.

Once you apply or submit your materials online, many resume databases are searchable by keywords and date of posting; the more recent your material is--the higher your "ranking" in the search results. (Generally, resumes submitted within the past 30 days will come out on top, with the most recent and relevant resumes on top.)

If you have posted your resume to sites such as Monster.com, Jobster, and CareerBuilder make sure that you refresh your materials within the system once every 30 days. This will ensure that your resume comes out closer to the top of the list.

Needless to say, based on our knowledge of resume trends--a great time to refresh your resume is Monday NIGHT.