by Conny Manero

Created on: August 19, 2009

It is not going to be easy and it might take some time, but for those who really want a job and are prepared to work for it, there is hope.

The first thing to do is to write a compelling resume.
If you cannot do this yourself, ask a family member or friend to help you. Think of your resume as a key to open doors.

When posting a job, employers receive hundreds of resumes, and while sifting through them, they spend on average ten seconds per resume. That means that in those ten seconds, you have to grab someone's attention.

Once you have your resume, write a cover letter.
In a cover letter you can draw attention to yourself. Highlight your education, experience and special talents. By all means, blow your own horn, but do not overdo it. Employers can spot a phony a mile away.

Once you have your resume and cover letter it is time for action.

Register with at least five employment agencies.
Employment agencies specialise in finding people jobs and can give you a much needed push.

Be open to temporary or contract work while you wait for that permanent job to come along. Temporary work can be instrumental in finding a permanent job. Lots of temps are asked to come back to a company they worked for previously, or are offered a permanent job once the temporary assignment comes to an end.

If you do not want to wait for an agency to call you, Google the job websites. You will be amazed at what pops up. Leading the numbers are www.workopolis.com and www.monster.com

Upload your resume on those sites. Having your resume in their database makes applying for a job all the more easier.

Make your resume searchable. Employers and employment agencies scan the Workopolis and Monster database daily and every time you revise your resume it goes to the top of the list. This increases your chances of being noticed.

Another option is cold calling.
Go on the website of the company of your choice. A lot of companies these days have a section on their website where candidates can fill in a profile and upload a resume. If there is no such option, click the 'Contact Us' button. The company address and company email will be displayed. Take a chance and forward your resume.

Looking for a job is all about taking chances. The worst that can happen is that an employer says 'No'. Then again, he might say 'Why don't you come in for an interview'.

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