Make job-starved days a thing of the past.

Ever had the feeling that there are lots of jobs out there but you can't seem to find one? If what you want is not obviously there for the taking, adopt more of a hunter-gatherer approach.

Prepare for the hunt
Start by gathering information about yourself before you look for the best hunting grounds. To make convincing applications you have to know what you're good at and be able to put it into words.

Many of us are not naturally proficient at talking or writing about ourselves. If describing yourself in terms of your skills and attributes is something you haven't done for a while, give yourself time to brush up on the techniques. Look objectively at yourself and decide which jobs are going to suit you.

Once you've worked out why you're a good match for a job, it will be easier to convince employers of it.

Concentrate on the best sources of vacancies
Don't waste energy by looking in the wrong places. Both on the Internet and in real life there are specific places advertising different jobs.

• Targeting the right newspapers, the right employment agencies and the right employers, channels your efforts effectively and reduces the chance of repeated rejection.
• National papers normally focus on different professional areas each day of the week. For example The Guardian on a Monday is a good place for secretarial, media and creative vacancies whereas The Times on a Tuesday has a comprehensive choice of legal vacancies.
• Professional and trade journals are a rich source of vacancies and also bring you up to date with current issues - always a good talking point at interviews.
• General employment agencies advertise huge numbers of jobs, but registering with a smaller, occupation specific agency may yield better results.

Keep going

Use a range of resources. Job vacancies aren't always in the obvious places.

• Over half of all jobs are filled by word of mouth or as the result of speculative applications.
• Let people who could help know you are looking for work.
• Don't overlook direct contact with employers. If there's a company you'd like to work for, contact them. Tell them what you have to offer and how it could be of benefit to them.
• Don't allow yourself to be thrown by setbacks - they're inevitable.

As with any hunt there's always the possibility of disappointment, but don't let that turn into defeat. From every pursuit that doesn't bring the result you want, there's something to be learned. Take time to reflect on what went wrong and adjust or repair your tools accordingly. Remember, the one you're chasing now doesn't know the last one got away.

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