€Help me find a job!€ is a common request faced by recruiters and career consultants. Most professionals end up changing companies or jobs several times in their career. Successful job seekers plan their career path in advance. This allows them to approach their job hunt logically and efficiently.

Getting the perfect job is a multi-stage process. It is important to avoid the temptation to skip a stage or two in the hopes of getting re-employed faster. For instance, spending half an hour updating and polishing your resume can save you weeks or months otherwise spent in unsuccessful interviews.

Top professionals know how to discover and utilize key job hunting strategies. Effective job search strategies can help job seekers land the best jobs in the least possible time.

Here are some simple and effective solutions offered by career consultants who were confronted with the €help me find a job' request.

Know What You Want

Many job seekers, when faced with a tough and uncertain job market, are ready to settle for €some job, any job'. They believe they are being €flexible', and that this will help them land a job quickly. This is not true.

Flexibility is important. But true flexibility is possible only when job seekers know what they want. Once they have an idea of what they are looking for, it becomes easier to find out how to go about getting it. It also becomes easier to brainstorm out of the box alternatives to traditional targets.

Research, Highlight, Polish

Next, research key positions and companies. Once job seekers identify their targets, it becomes easy for them to find actual opportunities that fit the bill. The trick is to wait before expressing an interest.

Many job hunters make the mistake of applying for a job the minute they see an ad. The problem with this approach is that it does not allow them enough time to personalize their resumes or cover letters.

Spend some time figuring out what individual employers and recruiters are looking for. This allows job seekers to highlight those points in their resume that will most appeal to recruiters.

Finally, spend some time editing and refining the resume and cover letter so that key points are visible at a glance.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

The job interview is a critical stage in the job hunting process. Interview methods and settings have become highly sophisticated. New interview scenarios, like online interview scheduling, are becoming increasingly popular. Spend some time researching the potential employer's interview method of choice. This helps in adapting your interview strategy for the best effect.

Next, draft a personal elevator pitch. Focus on the unique skills you bring to the table and how these can benefit the company. Touch briefly on your personal career goals and philosophy. End on a positive note.

Spend some time brainstorming potential questions that may be asked during the interview. Take the help of a mentor, colleague, or family member. Also, ask them to listen to the elevator pitch.

Use these simple yet effective responses to the €help me find a job' plea to revitalize your job search.