Key takeaways for today’s job applicant include

• Begin the job search process by exploring your interests, evaluating your qualifications, and investigating career opportunities.
• Develop a targeted résumé that is perfect in the quality of its content, organization, writing, and overall presentation to increase your chances of getting interviews and hence the jobs.
• Prepare a winning cover letter and résumé by assessing your skills and researching what employers are looking for, what jobs are available, and how to find and apply to them.
• Write a cover letter as part of your targeted approach to applying for job competitions; use it to identify the job by name, introduce your résumé, explain how you’ll apply your skills in the job, and request an interview.
• Prepare for the pre-interview, interview, and post-interview process.
• Optimize the job search process and your chances of getting hired by taking advantage of today’s digital tools and apps.