fit within your target buckets. Apply to opportunities where you truly are a fit. Where your value proposition aligns. Ignore the others. The relationships and networks that support you finding opportunities and becoming known in your target areas. The activities that generate the above. Back to the math. You need to do what you can to improve the odds on that equation. In addition to our existing services, I am about to announce some new solutions that address head-on this climate that we are in right now. More later. Reader Comments (5) Good stuff Ian. My own personal experiences echo a lot of the thoughts in your post - most industries still have many jobs they are offering - the problem is that the competition has gone up significantly. In this type of job search environment candidates need to get back to basics - and make sure they've covered their bases on all the elements you've discussed (resume/CV, cover letter, interviewing technique, thank-you letter (!)) - because that's whats ultimately going to separate those who get hired from those who don't. Looking forward to more! As a sophmore in college I thought these tips were great. These are tips that i can begin to follow now as I'm am stilll in school. I am new to the whole idea of networking and have now started my networking process recently. I need to begin to come up with a resume and doing more informational interviews. With the economy the way it