As the economy changes and the job market gets harder, those seeking a job need more than ever to be able to adapt to the new environment. Without this crucial self evolution, competition may get the best of you, meaning that someone who doesn’t necessarily have better qualifications but does have a refined outlook, one that fits the year, may get the job instead. But you don’t need to grit your teeth anymore and just watch the other person be hired as there are simple steps to break down this task so it is easily surmountable.

You might want to begin by creating a well thought out job search strategy which fits what you’re looking for, since doing so makes it less likely for you to encounter frustrations over the job when all you should be thinking about is how to best present yourself to get it. Asking someone for interviewing tips if you feel uncertain may go far for you as well.

Below is a list of some essential tips for a job search that are not only easy to follow but highly effective:

1. Everyone is Unique

First and foremost, having a professional brand that is individual to you is a great way to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. It only takes a few seconds for a potential employer or someone from a hiring agency to scan a social media page or profile on a social networking site, so details and facts must be set up in a way that catches the eye and says as much as possible in as few words as possible.

It may sound harder than it is, so here’s some advice to get started: Go offline to overwrite your bio, adding everything you want to in the first rough draft, and then slowly change words and edit it down until you essentially have the extract – a solid, pure result.

2. Every Second Counts

If this urgency to get a job comes from being unemployed, don’t waste time on applying for every single opening you see. While it might work well for someone seeking a lower paying, maybe even manual labor job, serious entrepreneurs can’t be potentially losing opportunities to get something bigger and better by being all over the place.

Blind networking usually doesn’t bring back many results, either – as mentioned before, knowing what you want before you search makes things go a lot smoother.

3. Using Well Known Online Sites

If you can’t be found on LinkedIn, then there is a good chance opportunities are passing you  by. You should be setting up an account with the tips given about forming an online profile, and then making sure to keep up a certain level of traffic so that anyone viewing your page sees how involved you are on the site. Neglect looks unprofessional and seems to lack seriousness, while being too active may make you come off as someone with a lot of time on their hands.

4. The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword

A well written, perfectly edited résumé may mean the difference between a call back and a rejection. Typos, missed words, improper grammar, or even a choppy flow can make it hard to read, and when the words don’t seem to dance off the page, important details may be skipped over. Before you start worrying, though, remember that a resume isn’t something that has to be done alone.

There’s no shame in asking a friend to proofread – in fact, it’s recommended – since you may end up accidentally overlooking a potentially costly mistake or leaving out something that would help you by refusing a second opinion. However, if you don’t feel yourself able to write a proper resume, there are hireable services where another person will gladly do so for you.

5. Knowledge is Power

Different places have different standards and practices, so it would be a good idea as well to pick up some interviewing tips so that you speak the lingo prior to even setting foot in the building.

This will help the hiring representative feel more at home while talking to you as you already understand one another, and not having to spend precious time figuring out phrases goes a long way in a fast paced world. You may also want to do your fair share of studying potential employers and researching details about them – like said before, the more you have in common, the better the candidate you are.

6. Using Contacts

If you already know a person or people who can help connect you with a potential employer, then you have a strong advantage. Similarly to being able to speak the lingo, having an “in” because of a mutual friend means so much in the rough world of job competition as you are no longer a stranger. There is a lot to be said for familiarity, and it shouldn’t be underestimated or understated. Don’t be shy to ask that friend to introduce you to a hiring agency or company representative.