Career Resource Center
Tips

Amount / Quality of Effort
These two are the most influential factors. A 50-hour per week effort is likely to get you a job twice as fast as 25-hours per week. Being well prepared, and using the most effective methods, which are not necessarily the easiest ones, are also important.

Condition of Your Job Market
If things are depressed in your industry or chosen area, it takes longer. A glut or shortage of your particular set of skills will also affect your chances of getting work. Have you looked at new fields to which you might transfer your skills?

Job and Salary Level
Entry or lower level jobs are easier to find than higher-level positions. As you approach the top of your profession, there are fewer positions; and if you choose to price yourself on the high side for a given job, you may find it difficult to find work.

Factors Beyond Your Control
Although it is illegal to discriminate because of age, race, sex, religion, etc., some companies are still influenced by such factors in their hiring decisions. By emphasizing your skills and ability to do the job, you may diminish the influence of those other factors.

Geographical Limits
It is often a mistake to limit your search to the town where you live, especially if it's depressed. Covering the whole state or country requires extra time to make contacts and to schedule interviews that are some distance from home and which require extended travel.

Luck
There is such a thing as being at the right place at the right time. And, of course, the more prepared you are and the more flexible you are to move around, the better your luck will be.

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