A sophisticated society has many specialist roles, therefore, the more specialised you are or can become, the more expertise you can provide, and more value to an employer's team. But don't forget to be a generalist in all areas connected with your career.

As the nation, and much of the world, begins to feel the first moves towards economic recovery, the job market has started to enjoy a boost in the last few months. It's almost as though it has awakened from hibernation, so it's a good time to start looking for a new challenge. If you've been unhappy at work, but worried about moving on because of the uncertainty in the business world, now could be the right time to make the switch.

Patience should also be a factor on your job search. It may take a while to get the career break you want. You may try out a part time job while you are still waiting for a permanent job. Broaden your scope on your job search. You may consider various positions and job opportunities that may fit your skills and knowledge. People in search often find their jobs by cold calling on potential decision makers in companies. By creating a marketing letter that communicates your skills, accomplishments, and value-add, you can attempt to forge relationships with key people in the companies you would like to work for. One site that is gaining notoriety is VisualCV, a site that allows you to house your portfolio of your personal marketing documents in one location. By signing up for a free account, you can add your work samples, charts, graphs, audio, video and images to your portfolio.

Develop a good resume and conduct a good job search. There are many avenues to take in searching for a job. Research and learn the many different employment sites and utilize them. Consider volunteer work, part-time positions, and internships to gain needed experience. In all honesty, your resume might be perfect (literally); however, it will not hurt to give it a second look. Print a copy and read it out loud. Do you notice any mistakes or any instances where a line doesn't make sense? If so, it is time to make changes now. Any company which is serious about hiring will conduct an interview rapidly. I know I want to get the best talent, and if that talent is sitting in front of me, I do not want to let them walk out of the door and go somewhere else. Examine the products and services the organisation provides and ensure that those that match your perception, interest and previous experience are identified.

Then ask them some questions that show you've done some homework on their company. Be very friendly, down to earth and personable and build some rapport, At some point they will ask you for your resume at which point you have now put yourself at the top of the decision maker's pile and skipped the HR screeners. All job fairs and the companies who attend them are different. Some aren't even actively hiring right now, but they want to create a good database of resume for later. Some companies are hiring and will just collect your resume; their reps are there to do that collecting and tell all interested job seekers about the position. Send out great introductory cover letters and resumes with a winning proposal.