by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Here are the keys to successful job-hunting.

• Do use all avenues/methods of job-hunting available. And do have a job-hunting strategy.

• Do take advantage of all Web-based job-hunting methods, including general job-hunting sites, industry-specific job sites, geo-graphic-specific job sites, company (employer) sites, and networking sites.

• Do know the Job-Search Domino Effect.

• Don't rely on any one method of job-hunting, especially job-hunting on the Internet (which should be at most 25% of your efforts), but do consider using our Quintessential Careers Job Board.

• Do have a professional looking resume and cover letter. And do use action verbs in your cover letters and resume. And for help analyzing your work experience, do complete a job-seeker accomplishments worksheet.

• Do focus on identifying your key accomplishments. Also, do use transferable skills to better explain your work experience -- especially for recent college grads and career changers.

• Do consider developing a job skills portfolio, which showcases everything you have to offer a prospective employer.

• Do consider having multiple versions of your resume, including a traditional formatted resume, text-based (ASCII) resume, and a Web-based resume.

• Don't expect to get a new job overnight; job-hunting takes time and patience. But do take some time to reflect on your strategies if you have been job-hunting for several months and have not had any success.

• Do consider developing your personal brand. Self (career) branding is essential to the career advancement of job-seekers because branding helps define you and your value to current and prospective employers. Use these free personal branding and career self-marketing tools to help develop and strengthen your brand.

• Don't quit your current job until you have a new job. And do give proper notice when you quit your current job.

• Do know the current dress for success rules for job-hunting.

• Do take advantage of your friends, family, and colleagues to network, network, network. And don't simply rely on passive job-hunting methods.

• Don't get discouraged if you've been fired or downsized.

• Do follow-up all job leads. And do be persistent; there is truth to the "squeaky wheel" cliche.

• Do make sure a potential employer can reach you. Provide your home phone, work phone (if you can handle the calls discretely), cell phone, and email. And do make sure that your voicemail (or user name for e-mail) is professional.

• Do prepare and practice for your job interviews. And do be sure and ask questions at the interview.

• Do conduct research on all companies that interest you.

• Do send thank you letters to all people who interview you.

• Do make sure you use these other free job-hunting do's and don'ts on all the major aspects of career development and job-hunting: Job-Hunting Do's and Don'ts Articles.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.

Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.