Part II: Preparation

1. I have identified my key skills and abilities, as well as my strengths and weaknesses.

2. I know how to dress professionally.

3. I know the key elements (the Unique Selling Proposition) that differentiate me from other job applicants.

4. I know exactly the kind of job I want next.

5. I can research companies and industries.

Part III: Networking

1. I keep in contact with colleagues I have met at professional events.

2. I keep in contact with people I have worked with in the past.

3. I attend professional conventions and make contacts with leaders in my field.

4. I introduce myself to others at social and business functions.

5. I exchange business cards (or resumes) with all new people I meet at these functions.

Part IV: Cover Letter Essentials

1. I have developed and honed, and can communicate, my Unique Selling Proposition.

2. I address all my cover letters to named individuals (Except when answering blind-box classified ads).

3. I never leave the ball in the potential employer's court; I always take a proactive approach.

4. I tell what I can do for the company rather than what the company can do for me.

5. I have eliminated all errors from my cover letters, and printed them on standard business-paper stock using a high-quality printer.

Part V: Resume Necessities

1. I have identified two or three key accomplishments for each job I have had.

2. I have determined my best format (chronological, functional, or some combination of the two) for my resume.

3. I have used action verbs in my descriptions.

4. I have eliminated all errors from my resumes and printed them on standard business-paper stock, using a high-quality printer.

5. I have produced a resume that stands out from other resumes.

Scoring

Total your "yes" answers. If your yes answers total:
• 23-25......You're in great shape -- you are ready for a successful job search.
• 21-22......You need some fine-tuning -- checking out some of the Quintessential Career Resources could be just the edge to get you that job.
• 18-20......You need more preparation -- better go out and read several of the articles and tutorials available at Quintessential Career Resources.
• under 18......You have a lot of work ahead of you -- better run out and read as many of the articles and tutorials available at Quintessential Career Resources.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this quiz? 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.

Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers, is an educator, author, and blogger who provides content for Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and blogs about storytelling in the job search at A Storied Career. Katharine, who earned her PhD in organizational behavior from Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH, is author of Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates and A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (both published by Ten Speed Press), as well as Top Notch Executive Resumes (Career Press); and with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters, Write Your Way to a Higher GPA (Ten Speed), and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Study Skills (Alpha). Visit her personal Website or reach her by e-mail at kathy(at)quintcareers.com.

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.

Want to take another one of our job-seeker tests and quizzes? Go to our Test and Quizzes for Job-Seekers.