CNNMoney.com released an interactive slideshow that provides several different key factors in locating and getting hired at the job that you want. The presentation, created by Jia Lynn Yang in April, 2009, is called “How to Get a Job”, and is “an interactive guide to navigating the worst job market of your lifetime”.  We have broken down the guide into five major points that you should follow in locating, and securing, the right job for you.

Target Your Search

When searching for a job it is very important that you narrow down your options so that you are applying to positions that best fit your skill set. You should apply to places at which you are well-suited and will thrive, making you an obvious choice for the position.

Leverage Your Networks

After you locate a potential employer, reach out to anyone you know who can prepare you for the interview. The more advice you get from people in, or with knowledge of, the industry, the better off you will be. Do your own research as well, so you enter the interview as prepared as possible to impress the interviewer, and convince them that you are right for the job.

Match Your Skills to Their Needs

Once you familiarize yourself with your potential employer, and what they are looking for in an applicant, make sure you cater your resume and experiences to meet their specific needs. If you are applying for a job as an administrative assistant in a medical office (like many billers and coders do), be sure to focus your discussion on your strong organizational and administrative skills. Optimizing your selling points and resume to meet the needs of your employer will go a long way in getting hired.

Be Creative and Offer Solutions

There is no better way to prove your value to a potential employer then to enter the interview with strong knowledge of their business, and talking points on how you would improve it. This shows that you have done your research on the company, and are confident enough to offer a creative solution. Your goal is to impress your potential employer and to stand out in their minds; this will distinguish you from your competition, and could be a huge factor for you in getting the job.

To be a Professional, You Must Act Like a Professional

You can follow all of the advice listed above, but if you don’t appear professional, composed, and confident during the interview, then you still won’t get the job. Make sure that your shirt is ironed, and your hair is combed, and look the interviewer directly in the eyes while you speak. The interview is your audition, and if you don’t look and act like a professional, then you will not get hired.

Is there anything that we have left out? Please let us know of any other advice that you would give to someone who is trying to get the job they want!