It's the question that everyone is always asking: How does one find a job these days? The second question is how do I get this or that company to recognize my talents? To help you land some work, you need to spend time planning your overall approach.

Tip 1: ask yourself what you want to do

Don't just go around looking for the highest paying job you can find; you need to also ask yourself exactly what it is you want to do with your career. Take a few moments and think about exactly what you want to do. What is your goal? Once you have figured it out, then you can start looking for that post.

Tip 2: spend some time working on your resume

First impressions are extremely important, and that means you need to plan and design your resume well. Regardless of the format that you use, the following are very important and must be considered at all time.

1. Do not make it too long; usually one page is enough.

2. Do not write any long winded paragraphs; just list down your previous working experience, your skills, the positions you held etc. Again, do not lump them together, but use a bullet to separate each.

3. Stick to the facts: most employers will check out your background, so don't put anything there that cannot be verified. Also, if you say that you are able to do something that in reality you cannot, you might get in trouble if you are assigned that task.

At the same time, you must not and cannot afford to sell yourself short. Highlight any awards, recognitions that you have gotten, and also point out your strengths.

4. Check your spelling and grammar. If a job applicant cannot even take the time to double check and clean up a resume, how can that person claim to be reliable?

5. If you are unsure of how to design your job resume, there are several online samples that can help. Check them out, and make any modifications that you see fit.

Preparing for that Job Interview

The following should help when you are going on a job interview.

Tip 1: Do some research on the company you are applying for. It's very likely that you will be asked questions regarding the company's vision or product, so be sure to have an answer.

Tip 2: Practice: you need to work on this carefully. Stand before a mirror, and start rehearsing. Watch your facial reactions, any mannerisms, the tone of your voice etc. You need to sound confident, but without coming across as being arrogant.

Tip 3: Be on time for the interview. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Tip 4: Be polite but at the time, try not to be too condescending; while you may want to sound professional, you shouldn't be too rigid; be conversational. In other words, act naturally.

Finally, don't be discouraged if you don't get a job right away. Keep working on your skills, and sooner than later you'll find yourself with that dream job.

Peter Garant is writing articles about how to find a job for a site about How to Write a Resume. http://www.find-a-job.org/how-to-write-a-resume.shtml