Getting a job certainly isn't always the easiest thing. Especially when unemployment rate is high, it can be very hard and frustrating. A friend of mine complained a few years ago that it was just impossible to get a job. He sent out over a 100 applications and hadn't even been invited for an interview. But there are some ways you can increase your chances.

Know what you want: Many people just want a job which is understandable when you are unemployed and need to get back into your working life. But by applying for any job you are running a risk of loosing your identity. Employers will try to find out why you want the job. Are you serious with the application or do you just want to use it as a stepping stone until something better comes up. The better you can explain WHY you want THIS job and why you'd be a good candidate, the better the interview will go.

Take time to prepare your CV
An incorrect, boring CV with gaps and stuffed with irrelevant information and full of spelling errors certainly doesn't help to get an interview. Make sure you take your time to prepare your CV as it is the door opener to an interview. It is no use for you to be great in selling yourself in person, if the employer will never see you. If you are not sure, on how to prepare the best CV, there are some interesting articles here on helium.com.

Have patience
You cannot expect to get a job with your first application. You can be lucky, but it can also take many months. You shouldn't see this as personal criticism and lose your confidence. Always remember that there are many suitable candidates competing for a limited number of jobs. Someone else might have just one skill that is more important to the employer than your skill set. You don't know, why you weren't invited and it usually is pointless to call and ask. Just take a deep breath and look again. And if you really struggle ask for some professional advice (e.g. job agencies) to review your CV and tell you where you might be going wrong.

Match your cover letter to the job
In the age of online applications it is tempting to always use the same, saved cover letter. But the letter is what the employer sees even before your CV. AND it is the tool to customise your application. Your CV cannot list all your experiences, so the cover letter is the ideal place to point out that you actually know the industry inside out or that you have specific experience in a certain sector they stress as important in their job description.

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