You need to learn as much as you can about your capabilities and the job marketplace. The forces of change affects where you may be able to locate employment. Fewer jobs are being offered by large companies and the federal government. One expert predicts that as much as 80% of the labor force will be working for firms employing fewer than 200 people. Moreover, self-employment seems to be an increasing attractive option for many people.

Employers are looking for people who are able and willing to adapt to diverse situations, who thrive in an ever-changing workplace, and who continue to learn throughout their careers. Companies want team players with strong work records, leaders who are versatile, and employees with diversified skills and varied job experiences. At one time employers valued applicants who were able to be employed for 18 years or longer in one corporation, who had position promotions on a steady basis. However, in today's job market employers would rather interview applicants who had employment changes throughout their careers.

Do you have what employers are looking for? Before you limit your employment search to a particular industry or job, it's a good idea to analyze what you have to offer and what you hope to get from your work. This advance preparation allows you to identify employers who are likely to want you and vice versa.

Get started by jotting down 10 achievements you're proud of accomplishing; think carefully about what specific skills these achievements demanded. As you analyze your achievements, you'll begin to recognize a pattern of skills. Which of them might be valuable to potential employers?

Next, look at your educational preparation, work experience, and extracurricular activities. What do your knowledge and experiences qualify you to do? What have you learned from volunteer work that could benefit you on the job? Have you held any offices, won any awards or scholarships, mastered a second language?

Take stock of your personal characteristics. Are you aggressive, and a born leader? Or would you rather follow? Are you outgoing, articulate, or great with people? Or do you prefer working alone? Make a list of what you believe are your four or five most important qualities. Ask a relative or friend to rate your traits as well.

If you're having difficulty figuring out your interests, characteristics, or capabilities, consult an employment placement office, or the following websites for assistance: Job Diagnosis, lifescript, or Job Hunter's Bible.  There are numerous websites that give career assessments tests. These tests won't reveal your "perfect" job, but they'll help you focus on the types of work best suited to your personality.

Knowing what you can do is one thing. Knowing what you want to do is another. Don't lose sight of your own values. Discover the things that will bring you satisfaction and happiness on the job:

• What would you like to do every day?
• How would you like to work?
• What specific compensation do you expect?
• Can you establish some general career goals?
• What size company would you prefer?
• What type of operation is appealing to you?
• What location would you like?
• What facilities do you envision?
• What sort of corporate culture are you most comfortable with?

While you're figuring out what you can offer an employer and what you want from a job, you can take positive steps toward building your career. There is a lot you can do while you are looking for employment. The following suggestions will help potential employers recognize the value of hiring you:

1. Keep an Employment Portfolio

   Get a three-ring notebook and a package of plastic sleeves that open at the top. Collect anything that shows your ability to perform a job. Your portfolio is a great resource for writing your resume, and it gives employers tangible evidence of your professionalism.

2. Take Interim Assignments

   As you search for a permanent job, consider temporary or freelance work. Also gain a competitive edge by participating in an internship program. These temporary assignments not only help you gain valuable experience and relevant contacts, but also provide you with important references and with items for your portfolio.

3. Work on Polishing and Updating Your Skills

   Whenever possible, join networks of professional colleagues, and friends who can help you keep up with your occupation and industry. While waiting for response to your resume, take a computer course or seek out other educational or life experiences that you can add to your resume.

Your approach to the employment process is to gather as much information as you can; narrowing it as you go until you know precisely the companies you want to approach. Begin by finding out where the job opportunities are; which industries are strong; which parts of the country are booming; and which specific job categories offer the best prospects for the future. From there you can investigate individual organizations, doing your best to learn as much about them as possible. A lot of companies maintain websites which you can research.

As the web grows, the employment information it provides is constantly expanding. Some helpful websites are:

• America's Career InfoNet
  Good place to begin; Offers information on typical wages and employment trends; Gives education; knowledge; and skills requirements for most occupations. Includes links to multiple career resources on the internet.
• The Monster Board 
  Post more than 25,000 openings and 300,000 resumes. Heavily marketed, it brings a flood of employers.
• HotJobs
  Operated by Yahoo. A member-based site that job seekers can create a personal resume, which can be reviewed employers.
• NationJob
  Has one of the largest networks of both active & passive Job Seekers in the country; headquarter in Des Moines, IA.
• CareerBuilder
  Offers a network of career services, job-search information, and tips on how to succeed once you're hired. Includes a database of 20,000 openings.
• Net-Temps
  Maintained by career consultants; offers several thousand updated listing and real-time seminars.
• USAJOBS
  The official job stop for the United States federal government. It's your one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information.