The ultimate job search guide: Your dream job is out there somewhere, but a successful expedition takes time, a thorough exploration, and the proper tools

Careers and Colleges, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Tracey Randinelli

Once you've identified your references, don't put them on your resume. Instead, prepare a list of their names, affiliations, and contact numbers and submit it separately. If possible, Horowitz suggests asking each reference for a "To Whom It May Concern" letter containing a short evaluation and contact information. You can then photocopy each one and include it with your application.

TOOL # 4

CLOTHES

How you dress can kill an interview as soon as you walk in the door. "If you want a job, you have to show up as if you want it," says Allison Hemming, president of The Hired Guns, a freelance talent agency in New York City. "If you look like you mean business, you might get more responsibility, and with this flat economy, serious dress is in. Wear a suit."

A touch of individuality -- like a red tie or a scarf -- may help an interviewer remember you, adds Hemming. But never go to extremes. As a recent issue of JD Jungle, a magazine for law students, says, "Think J. Crew not J. Lo."

Because firms uphold different dress standards, you should check out codes before interviewing, according to Marjorie Brody, coauthor of Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? (Career Skills Press). For guidelines on dress, visit CareersAndColleges.com and click on "Current Issue."

TOOL # 5

THE THANK-YOU NOTE

A short note thanking an interviewer for seeing you is more than polite-it can give you an edge. "A well-done thing-you can be an effective way to move forward in the interview process," says Wetfeet's Pollock. A thank-you note can also give you a chance to make a point you may have left out during the interview. The note doesn't have to be more than 150 words or so. Unless you're in a high-tech industry, send it out snail mail rather than e-mail-and send it within 24 hours of your meeting. It's helpful to personalize the letter by mentioning something you discussed during the interview, preferably something that will reflect positively on you.

10 Job-Hunting Mistakes and How Not to Make Them

1 Applying to positions you're not qualified for. The fact is, all the nailed interviews, glowing references, and over-the-top GPAs in the world are not going to land you jobs that require degrees or experience you don't have. "You may need to ask yourself, 'Is this a good time for graduate school?'" says College Journal.com's Lee.

2 Expecting Job opportunities to come to you. About 80 percent of available jobs go unadvertised, which means they won't be posted on a job board or waiting for you to circle them in the classifieds. It's up to you to hunt them down.

3 Not taking your job search seriously. You should expect to spend a significant amount of time on the process. "It's amazing how many students will study for 30 hours for a mid-term, but won't spend more than three minutes posting their resume to a job board," says CollegeRecruiter.com's Rothberg.

4 Not doing your homework. According to an Accountemps survey of corporate executives, 44 percent say the most common mistake student interviewees make is lacking knowledge about the company. At the very least, know the company's products/services, its main competitors, and the current issues it's affected by.