1. How to stay optimistic during your job search
Some career coaches suggest that it takes 100 sent resumés to generate ten interviews, which in turn, results in one job offer. The validity of the estimate aside, the point is that a job searcher must persevere through a lot of rejection. Problems arise when we get midway into the job search and have yet to experience any significant success. We blame ourselves for being poor candidates and/or take the position that there are no jobs out there. During this mid search period, a job seeker needs to stay especially objective and composed. Carefully assess how you can improve your job search approach. Take a hard-nosed look at the state of your particular job market and the skills you have to offer. Above all, stay optimistic and don’t give up.

2. If asked to name your strengths in an interview, keep the list short
If an interviewer asks you to list your strengths, keep it short. That sounds wrong, but few people want to hear a long-winded, make-it-up-as-you-go-along list of all the positive adjectives you can think of. Instead, say something like "If I had to name three of my key strengths, they would be dependability, teamwork and communications." You can then embellish a bit on those three, or another three you choose, but limiting the list helps the listener to focus and makes you sound much more prepared and thoughtful.

3. Follow up on networking
Don’t forget to follow up with those who have provided suggestions regarding who you should speak to for networking! Once you have spoken to the suggested contact, let the original referrer know how that conversation went, and then express your appreciation for their help. This sends a message that you value the referrer’s help, and that you see them as involved with your search beyond a one-time conversation.

4. Know the market price for your experience and skills
If you are negotiating with an employer for a position, be specific and counter their initial offer by indicating the percentage their offer needs to increase to in order to reflect the market price for your experience and skills. For example: "Thank you for the invitation to join your team – the opportunity is truly exciting. It is important for me, however, to feel that we agree the pay reflects the job market’s going rate for the kind of experience you want. From what I understand of the market, I believe a more representative salary would be about 10% higher than your offer."

5. Blow your own horn and start boasting
Start boasting. Most of us have real difficulty telling other people about how good we are. We consider it bad form, impolite and evidence of a conceited and self-absorbed personality. That’s true in many situations, but the interview is an exception. Here your success lies in your ability to communicate your strengths and the belief that you are probably a better candidate than the others, while not sounding stricken with delusions of grandeur. Find the right way to express your strengths and get comfortable with a little horn tooting. Done well, it demonstrates confidence, not conceit.

6. Perseverance is the key
Keep this quote from Calvin Coolidge handy with your file of job ads, cover letters and resumés. Persistence is a large part of your eventual job search success: "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

7. Being asked to do a telephone interview on the spot
You may find yourself answering the phone and being asked for a telephone interview on the spot. It’s a rare candidate that can do their best without preparing for an interview, so we suggest that you express your eagerness to speak with them, but then ask to call back at a prearranged time. This lets you gain your composure and do some review of the job ad you responded to. Don’t worry that you have somehow jeopardized your chances by asking to call back, you haven’t. At the same time, arrange to call back that same day, if possible. That way you will come across as both well prepared and eager to discuss the opportunity.

8. Try and keep interview answers focused
Try to keep interview answers focused. If asked about your strengths, do not start a rambling list that includes all the possibly good characteristics you can think of. Instead, keep your list of strengths limited to a few and present them in a way that shows you know yourself well. When asked to talk about yourself, stick to a tightly edited and relevant set of comments that have been practiced beforehand so that your message is delivered in an engaging and impressive way. If you do not practice in advance, you are likely to start rambling and leave your listener more confused than engaged. If you think about your presentation beforehand, and then practice your responses, you send a message of confidence and professionalism to your interviewer.

9. Panel interviews
Panel interviews are a regular part of many job seekers experience. Be ready to greet each interviewer personally, shake their hands and send out signals that you are comfortable speaking to a group. Keep your head swiveling as you speak so that everyone is getting regular eye contact. Be aware that each panel interviewer will have their own opinion of you and you must win them over individually. As much as you can, engage those who you feel need to have one-to-one interaction through appropriate conversational questions. Finally, get the names and positions of panel members in advance – perhaps at the time you set up the appointment.

10. When developing your resume sometimes less is more
When writing your resume, don’t let too much specific information detract from your chances for an interview. Sometimes saying little or nothing is the way to go, especially if the alternative is filling two or three pages of a resume with thorough and well written, but irrelevant information. If you are trying to impress a reader with your senior executive skills and vision, do not send a document filled with your achievements as a supervisor. It just underscores the mismatch between your experience and the job you applied for. There may be occasions where you are best off using generic language rather than referring to specific products or protocols your interviewer cannot relate to.