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Are you engaged in looking for a job? If you are doing it right, you are busy distributing resumes, knocking on doors, and actively working to get your foot in the door for an interview. Recent layoffs and business reversals, unfortunately, mean many more people are competing for the few job openings. You cannot afford to misstep during the process. Consider these important keys to finding and getting the job you want.

Recheck the Resume

Make sure your resume is error-free and contains the pertinent information relating to the job you are requesting. Simply put, do not use a generic resume. You should refit your resume to the job opening, highlighting the skill sets requested in the job requirements. Get an educated eye to look over your resume, and especially look for grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure errors. Choices for interviews may come down to a pristine resume.

Ask for Help

Do not be afraid to network and ask friends for help. Does someone in your family or circle of friends know a lot of people? Remember they have contacts who know of openings and job availability you will never, on your own, hear about. Be sure to communicate with them about the kind of work that interests you.

Personalize your Cover Letter

Be sure to personalize your cover letter to reflect the company to which you are applying, and if possible include the name of the personnel representative. Many hiring managers will tell you that of the hundreds of letters they get for interviews, very few personalize, and simply send form letters. With the number of resumes coming in for each position, always maximize every potential opportunity to be noticed.

Do Not Underestimate the Importance of a Contact

Every contact may be of value. Always follow through on a contact regardless of where the person is located. In the current economy, a job seeker does not have the luxury of being picky. While the person you contact might not have a job for you, or be in an area you are interested in, you never know who that person knows. Remember that you never meet anyone by accident. Every person you meet will interact in your life, either now or late. Do not discount that simple fact. Be sure to keep contact information. Develop a simple method of keeping contacts. This will prove invaluable.

Maintain the Right Attitude

It is certainly difficult to keep a right attitude while searching for a job in the current market, but maintaining a right attitude is vital. You will never solve a problem by condemning it, such as your last employer or job. Before you begin looking for a new job, take a moment to accept your previous job loss. Happiness is a state of mind and has nothing to do with your outward circumstances. A smile will always place you one step closer to an interview.

Conclusion

The challenge to find employment in a down market is not easy, but most things in life are not so easy. Take the opportunity to put your best effort into ensuring success in the process by checking your resume and cover letter, to ensure they are personal and up to date. Tap into contacts and friends and enlist their help with finding available positions. Take a careful inventory of your attitude as this may be the biggest threat to your getting into another position. Make every effort count for you and you will soon meet with success.

Learn more about this author, Dr. Michael Smith.
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