The key to job-search success is in the preparation. The better you accomplish the tasks in this step of job-hunting, the more success you will have in the later steps.

Here's what you need to undertake during this step:

1. Know yourself and your career focus. A lot of students have a general idea of what they want to do, but not the specifics. Take the time to explore jobs within your career field, as well as the time to really know yourself.
• Career Assessment
• Career Exploration
• SWOT Analysis
• Mission Statement
2. Determine what you have to offer prospective employers. Take the time to identify the unique accomplishments, skills, and abilities you can offer employers.
• Accomplishments Worksheet
• Transferable Skills
3. Develop your career marketing tools. Once you have identified what you offer prospective employers, create drafts of your job-search tools.
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Elevator Speech
• Career/Job-Search Portfolios
4. Are you ready for the job-search? Take our Job Skills Quiz. We also have quizzes on cover letters, resumes, and interviewing.