Know your options: Is your field of interest growing, holding steady or declining? Are your skills and education up to date? Would you rather work for a large, small or midsize firm? Are you willing to move? All of these factors can impact your job search.
Research the market: Evaluate the job market. Is it tight? What are the top companies in your field? Are they hiring? Use the Internet, business journals and other sources to research potential employers and the general hiring climate.
Draft a general résumé: Put together your résumé before you begin applying for jobs. Check and recheck for misspellings, grammatical errors, improper formatting and other résumé don'ts.
Look for a job: The Internet has revolutionized the job search. Along with frequenting major career sites, such as Yahoo! Hot Jobs and Monster.com, you'll want to visit the job portals for specific companies. Also, don't forget newspaper classifieds and good old-fashioned networking.
Start applying: Customize your résumé for each job and keep a copy so you can refer to it before your interview. Always send a cover letter even if one isn't requested. Follow submission guidelines carefully.
Nail the interview: Educate yourself on the company you're interviewing with and try to demonstrate that knowledge during the interview. Use the Internet to research common interview questions and formulate answers in your head before going in for the interview. Dress appropriately. Smile. Make eye contact. Ask questions. Show interest.
Follow up: Always send a thank you note, either via mail or e-mail, within 48 hours of the interview.
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