Fun and games aside, let’s check out 50 ways to get a job!

1. Know what you want to do

2. Tell your friends, family and colleagues what you are looking for

3. Be able to succinctly tell people what you do in a way a child could understand

4. Look for jobs that are slightly different from what you used to do

5. Use the job boards and company websites

6. Join and participate in professional associations

7. Check in with your Alma mater

8. Become active in your community

9. Spend most of your time away from the computer

10. Attend networking events

11. Build a robust LinkedIn profile

12. Use LinkedIn Groups to meet new people

13. Scout out recruiters who do placement in you line of work

14. Develop new skills in-demand

15. Track your time and activities and assess what needs to be adjusted

16. Use Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to learn about company culture and meet insiders.

17. Re-connect with past employers

18. Research people before meeting with them to build rapport faster

19. Create a list of 30-50 companies that could potentially hire you

20. Attend conferences, trade shows or professional meetings

21. Write a solid and compelling cover letter (no templates allowed)

22. Customize your resume for every job

23. Always send a thank you

24. Take the harder route…always chose the option that is hardest for you

25. Don’t forget to look for civil service and government jobs

26. Join or create a job search project team to keep you on track

27. Follow up and don’t give up

28. Spend at least 30 hours a week dedicated to productive search activities

29. Schedule networking meetings at least a week in advance

30. Develop accomplishment stories to tell during your interviews

31. Practice interview answers out loud

32. Know all the details for the interview: who, where, and when. Don’t assume.

33. Be comfortably confident and make the interview an exchange, not an interrogation

34. Make LinkedIn work for you by pinging your connections when they share information

35. Have a professional email signature

36. Know when it is time to ask for help

37. Have solid, well-coached references lined up

38. Know your backup plan

39. Create and use a personal marketing plan

40. Expand your job search territory

41. Be able to put into words the value you bring to your future employers

42. Keep working your job search, even after you’ve had a great interview

43. Discuss salary requirements (not income needs) at the last possible moment

44. Learn how to negotiate and be ready to negotiate your job offer

45. Use the productive hours of the day (8am – 5pm) meeting with people

46. Give back to others less fortunate than yourself

47. Set measurable goals and time-lines and don’t let them slip

48. Know the right way to answer the question “why did you leave your last job?”

49. Google yourself to make sure your online presence is tip top

50. Never, ever stop looking for work again!