You have decided to look for a new job.

But, in the haste to land your new job, you need to make sure that you have covered all the bases and approach your job search in a patient and professional manner. These 10 tips will make sure that your job chances stay on the right track. 1. Develop a job search plan The old adage fail to plan, plan to fail is as true now as it has ever been. !f you know where you want to be and the job you want, it is easier to get there. Therefore, split your job search into short" and long"term goals and identify the actions you need to take in order to reach them. #or e$ample, will you need to develop new skills or gain a new professional %ualification& 'hat methods are you going to use to find a job( The !nternet& )ewspapers& The more you know about your goals and the more ways you search for your ne$t job, the greater your chances of finding your ideal job. 2. List your achievements *mployers want to know if you have the skills and e$perience they are looking for because they need to determine 'hat can this person do for my business& They want to see evidence of jobs you have done that went above and beyond the basic re%uirements of your job role. +ook back over the last 1, months and pick out any notable successes or special projects that you were involved in "" this can then be used to show an employer when you are at interview stage. -fter all, if you have a trumpet to blow then blow it. 3. Revamp your CV Your ./ is designed to do just one thing( to get you an interview. The average recruiter will only spend between ,0 to 00 seconds glancing at a ./ which means that you need to make an impression %uickly and sell yourself. -cting as your personal shop window, your ./ enables buyers 1employers2 to see what you have to offer and good presentation is key to attracting their interest. 'riting a winning ./ can be a challenge. But, by putting the mileage, in you will have a document that will make potential employers take action and invite you for an interview. 4. Decide the type of company you ant to or! for You spend almost 30 per cent of your time at work during the course of a year, so it is important that you work in an environment and culture that you can enjoy and thrive. -nd, that means targeting organisations that match your goals and career values. +uckily, many of the advertised jobs on .areerBuilder feature a link to the recruiting company4s profile which will enable you to get an insight into their working environment. -fter all, you don4t want to find yourself embarking on the same e$ercise again this

time ne$t year because you made a decision in haste. ". #se the $eb 56, so you are already on the 'eb but are you really using it to your advantage as a tool to help you get your ne$t job& )o& Then post your ./ online, create your own personal account on different job boards and keep up to date with developments in your chosen field by reading the online community pages which will also give information about working in different sectors within your industry. 6nowledge is power, they say. %. &et or! Talk to friends, call old work colleagues and attend industry trade shows or networking events. )etworking may sound daunting but the more events you attend the easier it becomes. -nd, the higher up the corporate ladder you move the more and more everybody knows everybody else and a referral from one of your contact could help your career. '. Customise your CV and coverin( letter !t may seem tempting to simply cut and paste the same ./ and covering letter to several employers, but it could cost you in the long run. Tailor your ./ to the job you are applying and only include relevant information that will demonstrate how your e$perience links to the advertised position. #or instance, if you are applying for a marketing role, make sure that your ./ has a marketing bias highlighting your e$perience in this field. ). Dress to impress 7hakespeare once said( -pparel oft proclaims the man. Your image is the outer reflection of your inner self allowing people to judge and make assumptions of your personality and attitudes. 8ressing successfully 1or unsuccessfully2 can make or break your interview. 8ress for the job you want not the job you already have. *. +tay positive and avoid ne(,heads 9ob seeking is never easy and there will be times when you will want to give up and resign yourself to staying in your current job. But don4t give up. *$perts estimate that the average job search can last anywhere from two to 10 months. 7o be patient and have the belief that you will find your dream job just around the corner. -s :enry #ord said( !f you think you can or you think you can4t, you4re probably right. 1-. .e (ood to yourself 7earching for a job is a job in itself and, unless you take a break away from it, you could start to feel e$hausted and burnt out. 8on4t allow it to consume your every waking moment. -llow time to rela$ with friends, listen to your i;od or go to the gym and participate in activities that you enjoy. .learing your mind and replenishing your energy will enable you to resume your job search feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.