So many are out there looking for employment. What they are finding are fewer jobs then ever before. In fact recently I was talking to a new Canadian that was somewhat frustrated. She just graduated and she mentioned that there were almost 800 other graduates in her program. Can you imagine what it would be like to apply for a job and have so many competitors?

Here is a guide put together by Kansas State University that might help.

I will also include a few of my own hints.

1. Apply to as many jobs as you can. Searching is all about quantity.
2. Target companies and learn as much as you can about them.
3. Realize that a lot of jobs are never posted and when they are everyone else sees what you see. Look for jobs on company websites.
4. Most companies are using an applicant tracking system so I would like to wish you good luck when you are trying to figure out the magic words. There are sites to help you with this.
5. The best way to find a job is to know people.
6. Once you have a job it is easier to get a job.
7. If your resume is only 1 page then you don’t have a lot of experience. If you have experience then it shouldn’t be a problem that your resume reflects what you have accomplished.
8. Make a list of everything that you have accomplished and then put as many in your resume as possible. Amazingly when I do some mentoring this is the area that is often missing.
9. Stop spending time with people you know and find those that can help you advance your career and perspective.
10. Keep in mind that the job title you are searching for could be named something else.
11. Try and gain missing experience in a number of different ways: internship, co-op and volunteering. Employers want you to have experience and they won’t mind where you got it.
12. Life is but a succession of hearing a lot of NO. Followed by a single YES.