Last week I shared these simple commands (3 Be's) as part of the "Money & Main Street" segment on CNN.com:
Be flexible. You may have to look outside your industry, your town, your salary range in order to find a job today. You may have to take a job that is more junior than you would like. But once you get in the door, you can demonstrate your skills and move up -- or move out when the economy gets better.
Be special. With more than five job seekers for every advertised job listing online, you've got to be competitive. One way to do this is to identify what gives you unique value to an employer, based on your individual achievements. Then make sure you communicate that well on your resume, in interviews, and in your 20-second "elevator speech" that you might use at networking events.
Be positive. First impressions are so important in hiring decisions, so you need to project confidence and a positive attitude. This may be more challenging for people who have been job-hunting full-time for weeks or months, as rejections chip away at your attitude. Do all you can to engage your support systems and find inexpensive recreational outlets -- whatever it takes to recharge your batteries. You won't get hired without a positive attitude.
I also did a video segment on CNN.com that night on "How to Find a Job," which you can watch by clicking here.
