In the whole scheme of things, the best way to success in the job hunt is to find ways to set yourself ahead of the crowd. Before you start on the process of searching for work, you must have:

• Identified the career field that you like best
• Identified the organizations in that field that appeal to you
• Identified what the needs of these organizations are, and what sorts of problems or challenges they are facing

When you have done this homework, you are ready to start your job-hunt

Here is how to get the ball rolling:

Start your day well. By making daily written goals, your mind remains focused on things that are important to you. Commit 8 hours per day, 5 days per week to the job-search.

Go face to face. Knock on the doors of every organization that appeals to you, whether they have a vacancy or not.

Answer advertisements. You can find job advertisements in the classified section of local newspapers, in trade publications, and in professional magazines. Most advertisements will require a written answer. To answer such an ad, you will need to send your résumé and write a cover letter.

Use Your Contacts. This step cannot be emphasized enough. Make a list of everyone you know, and how each person can help you. When you discover an organization that you are interested in working for, ask EVERYONE you know if they know someone who works there. If they do, ask to see if you can meet these individuals to ask them about the organization. This individual may also be able to provide you with the name of the person responsible for hiring, and suggestions on how to approach them. You will be amazed at the number of people who are willing to give you help when you ask for it. Helping you will also make your acquaintances feel good about themselves, and may also increase their contact network.

*The number of contacts can increase rather quickly. It is recommended that you keep records of each successful contact and what that contact did for you.