If you want to be successful in searching for a job in these difficult economic times there are three key things you need to be doing. They are each to do with marketing yourself and include your resume, networking and your pitch.

A resume is the most important document in your bag of goodies. As you work to get your information into the hands of Hiring Managers put yourself in their shoes. What are they looking for? Does your resume stand out? It must portray you as someone who can add value to the organization from day one. Make sure you have the right keywords in your resume. Once you have completed the resume then you can move on.

It is often said that Networking is the key to finding a job and over 85% of people who find their jobs are through a friend of a friend, or an alumni group, or through another organization that they belong to. Never dismiss a contact because you think they will not know the right people. I could tell you any number of stories that would prove you wrong. Network, Network and Network and if that fails start Networking.

Our final item is The Pitch, the answer to the question Tell me about yourself or How do you see yourself fitting into this organization? These are both great questions when you understand what the interviewer is looking for. The interviewer is looking to hear about you strengths, abilities and skills and how they will benefit the organization. They are not looking to know when you last had a vacation (unless it is pertinent to the position) but they do want to hear what you did at what job that is relevant to them.

Practice a standard version of this in front of the bathroom mirror, when you have an interview research the company and the position and focus your pitch at the requirements.

The three steps we have discussed follow a logical pattern, prepare the resume that will get you in the door for an interview, network like crazy to extend your reach when it comes to finding opportunities and lastly practice the 90 second drill that will allow you to demonstrate very quickly that you can deliver the goods.

Be successful and do not give up!

My list goes thus;
1. Never neglect nairaland job section;
2. If you are dead serious about getting a job stay glued to nairaland 24 hours a day.
3. Subscribe to as many jobsites as possible
4. Make sure your phone is set up to receive mails like the way you receive sms (very important)
5. Follow up on job recruitment trends
6. Gatecrash aptitude tests centres when you are not invited, the worst that could ever happen is them sending you back home and please make sure you get all necessary info beforehand before you gatecrash(that's why you ve nairaland).
7. Learn how to write a good CV.
8. Get familiar with as much interview questions as possible and practice.
9. Study plenty aptitude test materials, never joke with this.
10. Put God first.
The list is inexhaustible anyway.