Job Search 101 - Only Apply For Jobs That Are Right For You

Looking for a job can be overwhelming. Sometimes, it seems like it is just too hard, there is too much to do and when you aren't getting responses as quickly as you like, it is easy to lose hope and start to become frustrated.

They say that to make a task easier, you have to break it down into small steps. So, let's keep breaking down the job search steps, to make sure that you have all of your bases covered:

Only apply for jobs that are right for you – There seems to be this unshakeable belief that is held by many job seekers that if you spread your resume out you have a better likelihood of getting a positive response. This is not the most effective way to find a job, and certainly isn't a good way to find a job that you would honestly love to do.

Using this approach is similar to a man going to a club and asking each woman there to marry him, until someone accepted. Sure, he would end up with a wife, but you have to wonder, what kind of woman would marry a man without caring if he was right for her? Applying for jobs that you don't want or that aren't right for you, just serves to give you less time to put real thought into writing a cover letter and tailoring your resume for the jobs you really want. You know, the ones you are actually qualified for!

When you take the time to really think about your skills and experience, and the research to find out where the next step in your career is, you will have a better idea of how to market yourself and know where to focus you efforts. With a goal in mind, the other steps will become much easier.

Even though it is common to think that you just want a job, any job, and that keeping your options open will prevent you from ruling anything out, the truth is, keeping the options open means less resources for each prospect. If you aren't sure what job you are looking for, at least narrow it down to two or three job titles. You can customize your resume and your search strategy for these select titles and raise your chances of success.

Just remember, all you need is just one good break. There are no awards for prolific resume sending. So, devote your energy into finding that one break that will get you where you want to be.

Keep an eye out for the next installment of Job Search 101.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.com

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.