At the moment, more and more people are finding it difficult to secure the jobs they want. It makes a lot of sense at times like these to get a job that is relevant to your long-term career plan, even if it is not exactly what you are after.

The idea is to build up lots of relevant experience that will stand you in good stead when more suitable positions become available. If you can secure a good reference and some really good points to add to your CV in the meantime then it is well worth the wait to give yourself a better chance when the time comes.

It’s important that you tailor your CV to the job you are applying for. You should stress the experience you have had in roles that are relevant to the one currently on your radar if you want to strike the right chord with your prospective employers.

Don’t include loads of retail and bar positions you held whilst you were studying, if the job you are after is in accounting, for instance, unless they demonstrate your accounting skills. There’s no harm in hamming up things you think will catch a recruiter’s eye, as long as you can follow it up at interview stage.

Your CV and covering letter very often represent your first point of contact with a prospective employer. When you draw up these documents, it is vital that you remember that they effectively constitute the first impression you make on the people responsible for accepting or rejecting your application.

This may seem a little daunting, but there is no escaping it. If you make basic grammatical and linguistic errors in your covering letter and CV, employers are less likely to look kindly on your application, especially when competition for jobs is so intense.

Make sure that you give yourself the best chance possible by ironing out all errors. Don’t just spell-check them; have your CV and covering letter proofread by someone with a firm grasp of grammar before you send it on its way.

Most people are well-aware of the importance of their CV when they apply for jobs. It is often the most influential factor in getting you on recruiters’ shortlists for interview. However, many people cram their CV full of detailed descriptions of their employment history in the misguided belief that a long CV is a good CV.

It’s far more important to slim your CV down and be concise about the previous positions you have held. Many employers are put off by protracted CVs that fail to get to the point. It is much better practice to tailor your CV to each employer, stressing any experience you have that is relevant to the post you are applying for.

Don’t put recruiters off by making them read page after page. Sell yourself in as clear and concise a way as possible.

There are all sorts of resources available to you when you are looking for a new job. It’s advisable to broaden your search in order to gain access to the best job adverts in your field.

The most tried and tested means of finding a new job are by checking job websites, job adverts in local newspapers and visiting job centre branches. However, a lot of people struggle to find exactly what they are after using these resources.

It makes sense to actually buy or subscribe to publications that deal with your specific area of expertise. It’s also worth visiting or becoming a member of certain industry websites where the companies you would like to work for are more likely to advertise. Do some online research to find out about industry-specific resources that could help you find a job more easily.