However, it is not impossible even in today’s bad – although, supposedly recovering – economy.

If you want to succeed and land a great new position in the shortest practical time, take the following five practical steps to up your game and improve your chances.

Ditch the “honey do” list.  It’s amazing how many home improvement projects that waited for years suddenly can’t be delayed another day once a person becomes unemployed. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I am going to take a couple of weeks to finish the basement, then I’m going to jump full force into a job search.”

Right. Nine times out of 10, that two week project turns into two months – or six months!

Hunting for a job is a job. Don’t talk about search for a job. Drop everything else. Work on your job search starting early Monday morning each week.

Put a target on people’s backs.  Forget about the outdated, completely ineffective method called “resume blasting”. Today’s job search success results from laser guided missiles, not carpet bombing. You are far more likely to get a response from sending 10 resumes addressed to a specific hiring manager or H.R. representative than from 100 sent out “to whom it may concern”!

Use LinkedIn.com and the many other resources on the internet as well as your personal network to target firms and find out the names of decision makers. Personalize your cover letter!

Customize your resume.  Never, ever send a simple, generic resume. Read the job posting as well as the job description, if available. Note carefully exactly which experiences and skills the company describes. Rework and reword your resume to ensure that it mentions every skill and experience you have that fits the criteria.

Get out and about. Finding a job in today’s environment is not a desk job. Sure, you’ve got to spend time on the internet setting up email job alerts on sites like http://www.indeed.com/. Yes, you have to customize and mail those resumes. Maybe that takes an hour or two each day.

What about the rest of the time, though? (Remember, this is a full-time job.) Think connections. Networking. Meet people for coffee. Participate in job seeker support groups. Volunteer. Get out and meet people with the intention of constantly letting people know that you are job seeking.

By the way, don’t focus on asking people if they know of a job for you. Instead, tell them your industry and specialty and ask if they can introduce you to people in your field, especially those in a position to hire.

Stay on the treadmill.  Yes, it can be tiring and discouraging. There’s a good bit of rejection involved and who likes that? Yet the fact is that the job market does show some signs of life. I work with people every week who land jobs. It can be done. You can do it.

 What’s the truth? Does Mr. or Ms. Recruiter really have more people to interview or is this an easy way of just blowing you off?

Of course, reality dictates that every recruiter operates differently and either of the two options is possible – the recruiter may really have more people to interview (the likely scenario) but then again, maybe not. However, the recruiters I know tend to follow a process something like this when selecting applicants to put forward for a position: 

1. Narrow the field to ten or less.
2. Phone interview everyone on the list.
3. Based on the phone interviews, shorten the list to the top three.

If you don’t make it to the Top 3, you have little to no chance of being presented for the position. So, how can you increase your chances of making the cut?

First, of course, you have to have an outstanding resume. Without that, you never make it to the Top 10.

Then, you need to present yourself as positively and confidently as possible in the phone interview. Prepare for the interview and present yourself with the same professionalism, preparation and confidence that you would for an in-person interview!

During the interview, focus on your value proposition: what makes you better and different than others who may be applying for the same job? Demonstrate competence using STAR stories illustrating past successes and strengths. Do your homework and be prepared to discuss the company and position in question in-depth, asking intelligent questions.

Finally, there are questions you can ask the recruiter that may help you guage your likelihood of making the cut for the Top 3:

•  When you compare me to the competition for this job, how do my experiences and strengths stack up?
  
  
• When it comes time to present me as a candidate to the firm, what will you emphasize to them as my best points?

These kinds of questions serve two purposes. They help you respond to any weaknesses the recruiter may point out. However, the recruiter's response may also clue you in as to where you stand and how likely you are to make it to the next level of consideration.

One of Scott's first questions to me concerned attitudes that empower success in a job search. I chose to answer by focusing on the idea of maintaining positive, upbeat energy. Looking back on my answer, I probably should have included a few additional thoughts.

So this article is my p.s. to Scott's question about attitude. It's an important subject. Make no mistake about the reality that your attitude - the way you frame your thoughts about your job search - will significantly determine the length and ultimate outcome.

I've coached hundreds of job seekers - at this point I've lost exact count, but I am speaking of far in excess of 500 - and I've seen every attitude you can imagine. I'm a direct person, so without beating around the bush, here are the attitudes you need.

#1. Don't be a know-it-all.Know-it-alls come in various forms. On the one hand are the newly graduated students who took a one-hour resume seminar and somehow learned everything there is to know about how to put a resume together. Frankly, I often haven't been very impressed with the advice doled out by university sponsored workshops nor the "experts" provided by government sponsored unemployment agencies.

I'm not trashing anybody - just saying that even if the advice you received came from the world's #1 job search genius, there's a lot to know about today's career transition. So keep your mind open for some additional information.

On the other hand, there are the people who haven't been out looking for a job for 20 years and seem blissfully ignorant of the concept that things have changed. Nope, in their mind, the job search is the simple task it always was - throw together a quick resume, blast 'em out to job postings and - voila! - you get a job!

These folks aren't usually open to suggestions about networking, LinkedIn, the hidden job market, practicing for an interview. I just let 'em go. They don't know what they don't know. That's why they will be back on the phone with me eventually.

Reality is that the labor market and job search practices have evolved. It's a complex and highly competitive ecosystem. You will enhance your career and move forward faster if you take the attitude that learning new things is an essential job search activity. Why not take the attitude of a student and educate yourself? (By the way, The Career Catalyst Radio show I mentioned is a great place to start.)

You need to frame the job search as a learning experience - take the attitude of a student.

#2. Look at the job search as an adventure.Yes, I know there is a lot at stake and that transition is scary, especially in today's economic environment. However, Winston Churchill's words apply: you have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear leads to inaction. Fear leads to timidity. Fear keeps you where you are and blocks the path to where you want to be.

Embrace the challenge. Rise to the occassion. Affirm yourself. Speak positive words. Expect beneficial outcomes. Say to yourself, "This is my opportunity to find a better job than I had before. This is my chance to make the changes I knew all along that I needed to make."

#3. Have faith in God. Probably, I lost some of my readers right there. You just got off the bus because you don't believe in a personal God. Still, I had to say it.

I happen to believe a personal God exists and He guides and provides for me. My circumstances are part of a larger plan and my desire for convenience is understandable but not essential. I am saying that life poses some great challenges but there are none so big that the Lord and I can't handle them together.

Hopefully. you also have a source of spiritual strength to help you through hard times. Take the attitude that the job search is not only about getting a job but also about making you a stronger and better person.

The irony is that those who take time to learn often move ahead faster than those who rush ahead into uneducated and aimless actions. Those who fear the challenge of change often remain in transition longer than those who simply embrace the uncertainty. Those who truly trust in a good outcome generally find a good outcome.

Take the issue seriously - good outcomes in the job search flow from attitudes.

Some people seem to bounce back emotionally, even when life temporarily knocks them down with blows to the gut. Down but not out, they spring back to their feet - or maybe drag themselves back to their feet - but they get back on their feet.

We admire their spunk, their tenacity, their true grit. Often we marvel at what these tenacious individuals accomplish after overcoming trials and tribulations that would have driven weaker souls to despair and depression.

Job loss can be hard knock. A prolonged job search, dragging on for weeks, months, in some cases even a year or more, however, is more than a hard knock. It's a day-by-day heavyweight emotional pounding on your self-esteem, your finances, your marriage, your career, your dreams and ambitions.

Frankly, the weak sometimes do not survive. The pressures are too powerful. The depression is too deep. The anxieties are too debilitating. Some quit. They give up. They join the ranks of the chronically unemployed.

It could happen to any of us. It could happen to me. It may have happened to you. However, there is hope. There is a positive answer to the question, "Are you tough enough for the job search?"

The reality is - you can be tough enough.

You can get what it takes to take the punches and keep coming back until you dominate the situation and win the prize for which you are striving.

The secret is psychological resilience. It's mental toughness and you can develop mental fitness just as surely as you can improve your physcial fitness.

Sure, it takes some practice and work. It even requires that dread intangible called "discipine". The good news, though, is just as walking a little each day will help your body start shedding excess fat, there are things you can do to develop psychological resiliency.

The American Psychological Association (APA) says that resilience involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned by anyone. Here are ways to build resilience according to the APA:

• Make connections
• Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems
• Accept that change is a part of living
• Move toward your goals
• Take decisive actions
• Look for opportunities for self-discovery
• Nurture a positive view of yourself
• Keep things in perspective
• Maintain a hopeful outlook
• Take care of yourself
• Additional methods include meditation and spiritual practices

Are you tough enough for a job search? You can be if you work at creating hardy mental patterns that lead to positive perspectives on life.

Finally, one thing I cannot leave unsaid. APA's final item makes reference to "spiritual practices". Fact is, for those of us who are believers in Christ, faith and prayer are our connection to the Almighty and the secret source of an amazing ability to bounce back from anything life throws at us - if we hold on to that faith and pray earnestly.

You can do this.

Think right.

Pray hard.

Hang in there.

Stay tough.

You can read more of what the APA has to say by going to their article The Road to Resilience.

Check out http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/!

This website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, will help you find occupations that require skills and knowledge similar to your current or previous job. In addition, you can learn more about these suggested matches, locate local training programs, and/or apply for actual job postings!

mySkillsmyFuture is one aspect of the Federal government's OneStopCareer initiative. The site is interactive, easy to use and best of all - free!

The article is called 100+ Places to Get a Job

On top of all this, it suddenly struck Roger that the bankruptcy would also impact his job search.

“Bud,’ he asked, “What if a potential employer performs a credit check? Am I ruined?”

 I could hear the anxiety in his voice.

 Maybe you face the same situation. Here’s the scoop… and while it’s never good to have a bankruptcy on your record, it’s not all bad news.

 First of all, your situation is not unique in today’s job market. The economy and housing market have hurt millions and bankrupted many.

There are a few situations in which a bankruptcy will definitely hurt you: applying for a security clearance, or a key position in banking or financial services. In most other cases, even if the employer runs a background check, the bankruptcy on your record will not necessarily automatically disqualify you for employment.

Employers usually don’t do background checks until after one or more interviews. So focus on making the best possible presentation of your skills, strengths, and achievements during the interview, just as you normally would. Sell them on what you can do for their company and how well you will fit in. Do not volunteer information about the bankruptcy during the interview.

Finally, remember that you can obtain a free credit report from the three credit bureaus once yearly.

 Bankruptcy is not the death-knell for your job search; so stay positive and keep your head up!

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain… Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, your personal data ­ especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data ­ can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense.

from Identity Theft and Fraud

Posting your resume on-line does expose you to some risk of identity theft. In one notorious case, even the databases at job search giant Monster.com were breached and the security of millions was jeopardized. The L.A. Times reported in August, 2007:

Hundreds of thousands of job seekers are at risk of being ripped off through a sophisticated scheme concocted by Internet criminals who have penetrated the resume database at Monster.com, one of the nation's largest recruitment websites.

Using e-mail addresses, phone numbers and other personal information harvested from the job-hunting site, the crooks are posing as potential employers or as Monster.com itself in a bid to hustle the victims' bank account numbers and passwords.

from Online job hunters become the prey 

The threat is real but that can’t stop your search for your next position! The following tips won’t guarantee that your identity can’t be stolen. Frankly, personal information is easy to obtain by dedicated and clever criminals. However, here are five things you can do to decrease the likelihood of being victimized.

1. Create a dedicate email address to be used exclusively for your job search. Use a “professional” name for the address with just your first initial and last name.
2. Use your cell phone number as the phone listed on your resume.  A cell phone number is more easily closed than your home phone if there is a problem with security/identity issues.
3. Obviously, it is important to put contact information on your resume: city/state, cell phone number, and email address at a minimum.  However, there is no need to put that level of information or other personal data such as date of birth or marital status on professional networking sites, such as Linkedin.com
4. Beware of bogus offers. A “job offer” arrives in your inbox from some company you never heard of offering a position that seems too good to be true. Send them your private information and then start your fantastic new job…. which will be trying to restore your credit… if you catch my drift.
5. Finally, weigh the primary risks. The core issue is deciding how much contact information to put on your resume. Identity theft criminals can probably get that information from many sources. You want potential employers to be able to contact you easily. However, your personal comfort level should dictate which information you do or do not put on the resumes you post.

• First, you are sucker punched in the gut with the news that you've been let go.
• Then, on top of that, the economy is in the gutter.
• This after already seeing your savings shrivel like a prune.
• Now you face a steady diet of uncertainty with a large side of frequent rejection thrown in for extra depression calories.
• By the way, did I mention the possible embarrassment you may feel?

Now that's a lot of stress to deal with while trying to muster the energy to pound the pavement every day, figuratively speaking, while projecting energy, confidence and enthusiasm.

However, many of my clients succeed in "keeping their head right" about the job search. When I ask them how to stay positive, they almost invariably agree on these common themes:

1. It really, really helps if your spouse is supportive. Jason Alba of www.jibberjobber.com wrote a great article on this subject. You and your spouse may want to read it together! It is called The Spouse's Role in Your Job Search.
2. Your extended family, friends and faith group can also provide the constant encouragement and care you need. The message here is do not keep your job search a secret! Let everyone know that you are looking and that you appreciate all the kind thoughts and words they can provide!
3. Exercise... take walks... go to the gym... whatever. Look, I know you have heard it before but you need the benefits of exercising. It will make you feel better... and look better, too!
4. Watch your self-talk. Say positive things to yourself. Focus on the blessings in your life. Focus on what you do have, not on what you don't have.
5. Finally, keep the job hunt activities going by structuring your approach. One client gets up every day and does job seach all morning. In the afternoon, he does his "honey do" list. That's what works for him. Point is, set up a schedule and follow it.

Finally, for some, the unemployment blow comes at exactly the wrong time. It can be the straw that breaks the camel's back. If you feel the depression or anxiety are too hard to overcome, please open your mind to the possibility of seeking professional help.

Your attitude is your greatest asset in the job search. Your first job search activity each day is to get your head right.

You can do this!

A career transition is the perfect time to ask that question! and I do know what I'm talking about.

I was laid off from a very good job on my 49th birthday. Ok, I wasn't really "laid off"; I was fired. Sure, the package I got for "voluntarily resigning" was a good one but the end result was the same as it is for most people who lose their positions: the somewhat unnerving prospect of not knowing what you are going to do next in order to provide for yourself and your family.

A friend called me during the period of transition that followed losing that job and asked if I had heard of "life coaching."

The answer was "no"; I didn't have a clue what the term meant.

"Well", she said, "I think you should look into it as a potential career. I think you would do well at it."

So, I did look into it.

I signed up for the training.

I launched a new career... at 49 years old!

7 years later, I can only say I'm glad I did. There is not enough space here to tell all the good things that have happened to me since then and I really believe many of those good things would not have come along without the decision to try something new.

Have there been some trials and tribulations. You got that right! There continue to be challenges. However, I wouldn't trade the last 7 years of my life for anything.

Ok, so you are in a career transition. You may prefer simply to find another job doing what you did before. Nothing wrong with that. If fact, if you loved what you did before, that's great!

On the other hand, maybe that's not you. Maybe there's a dream that's been buried under a lot of layers of life. Maybe there's a passion that is longing for expression. Maybe there's a desire to do something different... to become someone different.

It isn't impossible. It may be difficult.

Let me know what you decide.