1) Be picky! Work out what you want in a role and which roles you could do. Don't apply for everything that you see. That may seem counter-intuitive but, there is a law of diminishing returns, the more you apply for the less of a match you are likely to be and the less likely you are to get an interview.. and the more demoralised you will become. Secondly if you get something the chances are you'll be there a while...

2) Be clever! You are going to have to up your game in this very competitive market. So think carefully about every stage of the process; no throwing in an application just to see what happens.

3) Be strategic. Set your goals, it's part of being picky, but think about what the job after this next one is.. the old 'where do you want to be in five years time' question. Plan your career path, will this job you've seen take you towards those goals or away from them?

4) Be CV savvy. The best Cvs don't have to be two sides long, they need to be a strong shop window setting out what you've achieved, what the outcomes were and the hurdles you overcame. You may need several versions just as you need a different cover letter for each role you are applying for.

5) Be clued up. The more you know about the organisation you are applying to and the challenges it faces the better you can sell your skills and experiences as the ones they need to solve the problems they are facing. Do your research, on paper, on the web through people you know. Go there, (if it is a local authority) get the feeling of the place, think of the parallels between where you have worked and this new place. Think of the solutions you could bring to their issues.

6) Be self analytical. To excel in a competitive job market you must know what you have to offer, analyse your skills, differentiate your experience and be very clear about your achievements and the outcomes of what difference you have made.

7) Be flexible. That's not a contradiction with point 1, it is about not setting yourself a constraint or condition that you can't meet in a time of scarcity. Think carefully about all the constraints you've set yourself and challenge each one; if this was the last job on earth.. would I go for it..... maybe you will need to travel further, take less money, work in a different environment, accept contract work.. be flexible if it takes you towards your goals. Think about where outside of local government your current work exists, where could they use your skills? Brainstorm. Develop a map of your sector or service, brainstorm with colleagues, research. Look outside the box.

8) Be passionate. The best candidates are the ones that can demonstrate that they love what they do and can demonstrate their enthusiasm for the challenges on offer.

9) Be patient and be persistent. Some research in the USA suggests that in a downturn it can take 19 weeks to find a new job. That might be conservative in this current climate. Try to maintain your morale so that you can be passionate and not desperate.

10) Be on the top of your game. Make sure you spend time keeping your mental and physical fitness on top form. If you are unemployed you have the time, plan it, use it wisely, set goals and targets and make sure you achieve them. Even though training budgets have been cut and opportunities in work for development might be more limited make sure that you can show a future employer how you have developed yourself. Reading, shadowing, secondments, and running projects can all extend your skills and show you are someone who is proactive and keen.

11) Be a networker. All the research suggests that in the private sector 80% of successful job seekers find their new role through word of mouth. Whilst that is less likely to be true of the public sector there are occasions when that is happening; particularly with temporary contracts. So get out the address book, call people up, drink lots of coffee with former colleagues and keep your ear to the ground. Find the non advertised jobs.

12) Be web aware. Google yourself. What is the image that the world is seeing of you? Do you need to modify it? Are there negative messages out there?

Mary Hope Career Success gets people where they want to be in their careers, she opens up the mysteries of how headhunters work, what to put in a Cv and how to find a new role in the digital age. With over 30 years experience of teaching, human resources, training and development and more latterly worked as a professional recruiter. She has advised Boards and senior management teams on the appointments of their Chief Executives and Senior Management teams. She worked with organisations across the public sector but especially with local authorities and housing associations. As a qualified psychometric tester she has designed and run assessment centres. She currently works on a freelance basis for Judicial Appointments Commission, with the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Panel and sits on the Board of a housing association. Willing to talk at seminars and conferences on any aspect of job search and recruitment.. get that job through Mary Hope Career Success! Mary writes for local magazines and is a contributor to T he MJ http://www.maryhopecoaching.co.uk/