When you're looking for a great opportunity - a chance to advance yourself within your field or a chance to find a completely different position over the course of your job search -one thing is certain: when you have goals for your job search, you are going to want to be sure that you are able to achieve them. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that most people do while they are in the midst of a job search that sabotage themselves.

There are a number of things that you can be doing that will sabotage your job search. Fortunately, when you understand what to do and what not to do, you'll be able to smooth out the process of searching for a job - and, ultimately, land the job that you've always wanted to have.

The first thing that you need to do in order to avoid sabotaging your job search is to have an action plan. When you have an action plan for your job search, you'll find that you are able to know what you're going to do each day, to know when to send out your resumes and even when the right time is to follow up on those resumes and after interviews.

The next thing that you are going to need to do in order to avoid sabotaging your job search is to recognize that the job market changes over time. If it's been a long while since you last went through a job search, chances are good that you won't be familiar with the ways in which many companies take advantage of the online application process or of where you can search online for a job that will be great for you.

Of course, without clear career goals and a career focus, chances are good that you won't be focusing your job search as well as you otherwise could. Without a clear focus, the chances that you will apply for positions that don't match your skills or qualifications increase - and that can sabotage your job search. Likewise, you'll find that when you are not focused on reaching career goals your resume will not perform as well and you will be less prepared for questions that come up during the interview process.

Simply by taking the time to know what types of jobs you want to apply for - which jobs will help you to reach your career goals - you will find that you are likely to have a more successful job search. When you know what you are working to find, you will be in a far better position to be prepared and to find it.

A job search can be frustrating - especially when you find that you are sabotaging yourself every step of the way. By taking the time to get a clear look at the picture, by focusing on your goals and what it is going to take to achieve those goals, you will find that a job search can go smoothly and land you right where you want to be.

Copyright 2008, Cecile Peterkin.