“Like sh*t.” is what I hear often from job seekers when I ask how their job search is going.

Is this you, too? Here’s what you can do about it.

1. Get clear on what you want BEFORE looking for jobs.

Decide what you’ll expect from the company, what your non-negotiables are, and what you’re willing to be flexible with.

2. Have a badass resume AND cover letter ready in your arsenal.

Don’t wait until you find a job listing to try and write these.

You’ll be late to the party.

3. I recommend keeping a Cover Letter template and customizing it to each job application.

Quick and efficient.

4. Make sure your resume will satisfy both the “bots” and HR.

5. Sign up to get notifications from LinkedIn when new jobs based on your criteria are listed.

Be among the first to apply. Don’t procrastinate.

6. Network! Who do you know that has an ‘in’ at the companies you are applying for? Ask for an introduction.

If you don’t know anyone, find out who the hiring managers are and connect with them on LinkedIn.

Reading their profiles and content will clue you into what they are looking for in a candidate.

Add that to your resume. (Your skills, not that you LinkedIn ‘stalked' them).

7. Last, do some hiring yourself! Hiring a good career coach will transform your experience and results.

For more Career Development and Job Search tips, follow me on LinkedIn.

– Kelley Joyce, MBA, CPC

Kelley is a career development coach who is dedicated to helping people discover their career path and land their dream jobs. Kelley has served hundreds of professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Australia since 2012 to radically change their relationship with work.