1. Writing a resume no one wants to read! Your resume can NOT focus on YOU and your past! It must show employers how you can make a difference to them going forward.

They could care less about your career goals and job objectives. Or your work history, for that matter. UNLESS you can show them how it affects their bottom line. And remember, employers are buying YOU . . . not your resume!

2. Wasting your time on published job openings. If you want a long and painful job search campaign, keep answering ads and visiting agencies. Why? It's the COMPETITION! You're putting yourself right in the middle of it where everyone else is.

Now we're not saying you can't eventually get a job this way. But if you want to make a SUBSTANTIAL MOVE and do it FAST, this is definitely not the way to go.

3. Shotgunning your resume. The theory goes something like this: if I throw enough paper into the market or post to enough job sites, the law of averages has to work for me. At some point someone will want me. WRONG! The only law at work here is that the printing company and website owners are going to get rich.

Don't waste your time sending a resume if it's not specifically targeted. Broad distribution of your resume is the least productive way to look for a job.

4. Failure to follow up. Don't even bother with a job search campaign at all if you don't plan to follow up personally -- by phone, mail of email. It's that old competition thing again.

You have to get your foot in the door ahead of the pack. And don't expect an interview to lead to anything if you don't follow up.

5. Waiting for the phone to ring. Is there anything worse than waiting nervously for someone important to call you back . . . especially when you think they're supposed to?

If your attitude is, "I've got great looking credentials, lots of experience, an excellent work history . . . so here I am -- come get me!". . . you're in for a long, long job search. You have to take the initiative. Pick up the phone and find out what's happening.

6. Interviewing like a WIMP. Look, you get only one shot at the person who could be your next boss. You better come across like a pro. That means: be prepared . . . be rehearsed . . . be assertive. If you're not in control of the interview process YOU'RE OUT!

It doesn't have to be that way. In fact, finding a job in today's exciting job marketplace should be a thrilling CAREER ADVENTURE of a lifetime!