So, you’ve studied and you’ve done lots of research. You’ve compared various IT careers and selected the one you think is right for you. Hopefully, you’re well on the way to your degree or certification and you’ve given your choice a lot of thought. It’s all downhill from here, right? Wrong!!! Now it’s time for the ultimate test – finding a job!

If you thought all the decision-making, studying, and testing was hard work, you may be surprised at how tough finding a job can be. Finding the right job can be even more difficult. I don’t say this to discourage you, but it’s important to know what you’ll be facing once you get out into the "real" world. Finding a job can be trying under the best of circumstances. When the job market slows downs and the competition gets fiercer, it means you have to try even harder. Having that all-important sheepskin is great, but it isn’t a magic pass to happily ever after. But, don’t despair. There are ways of improving your chances of finding the right job (or at least one that is close) and we will be discussing them in this section.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to job searching is that preparation is crucial. Whether you are scanning want ads, writing a resume or cover letter, interviewing or networking, the better prepared you are, the greater the chances that you will be perceived as the top-notch, professional candidate you claim to be.

In this section we will cover five different topic areas:

• Resumes and Cover Letters
  
  
• Networking
  
  
• Search Strategies
  
  
• Interviewing
  
  
• Negotiating
  

Learning how to successfully navigate each of these areas will take time and practice, but will definitely be worthwhile. One of the best ways to perfect your skills is to solicit feedback and rehearse as much as possible. Find a good friend, family member or advisor who can be trusted to give you honest answers and evaluate you in an unbiased manner. Ask them to review your resume and letters, stage mock interviews, practice negotiation techniques, etc. In other words, ask them to take on the role of prospective employer and then provide a detailed critique pointing out your strengths and weaknesses. Better to hear about it from a friend since you may never hear it from that dream job employer who just tossed your poorly written resume in the circular file! Whether it’s due to time constraints or fear of litigation, most prospective employers won’t tell you where you went wrong in the job search process; it’s up to you to figure it out. So, let’s take a look at some of the important areas you’ll need to master.