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Popular job-hunting websites can receive thousands of applications a day, putting you in direct competition with hundreds of similarly-skilled candidates vying for the same positions as you. Whether you have made the choice to leave your most recent job or if the choice has been made for you, job-hunting can be a tiresome and often fruitless task if you fall victim to any number of common job-hunting mistakes.

Instead of being at the mercy of these mistakes, be aware of any potential problems and use the following tips and tricks to present yourself as positively as you can - the resulting confidence and marketability may provide you with the edge needed to find your next big career jump!

1. Having an outdated resume and skill set - in today's market, you must have a current and dynamic resume that presents your marketable skills and experience. Enroll in a resume-writing course or scour the internet for examples of great resumes in order to determine the best resume type for your experience. Ensure that you use dynamic action words to describe your prior experiences and focus on what you have accomplished for others (your employers, supervisors, volunteer projects) in the past.

2. Sending a "catch-all" resume and cover letter - look at it this way; a potential employer pays upwards of $500 to post a job on a popular website. He or she can only expect to receive a substantial number of resumes for that price. What does your resume present that puts you at the top of the pile? Research each and every company to ensure that you show an interest in that specific employer. Find a contact name (either by phoning, looking on their website or the job posting itself) and address your cover letter to this person. Include information about the company in your cover letter and tailor your resume experience to the job description. By showing a genuine interest in the employer, you will make an impression that might bring you past the first cut. Once you get to the interview stage, use this knowledge to ask informed questions about the company and the employer.

3. Appearing Unprofessional - potential employers are always looking for candidates who can present themselves in a professional manner, whether they are looking for a minimum-wage food service employee or the CFO for a company (I know because I've hired both with the same set of standards). Instead of using your personal email address (imasexy_cool_chic_@randomdoma in.net) consider

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