As well as academic and vocational qualifications , useful skills include the ability to work well with others or in a team, the ability to network well or good organisational skills. Many of these skills will have been obtained through past work, so when you're job hunting think back over your previous jobs and note down the skills you used. You may also want to think of things you have done outside the world of employment to find a job which may make you stand out from other applicants, such as voluntary work or involvement in a sports team. This exercise requires a degree of honesty - try not to produce a generic list of skills; you should only put down things which you yourself are particularly good at.

Once you have a clear idea of the type of job you want to apply for, it is important that you do some research into that occupation. Before looking for a job look at the types of tasks you will be expected to perform and the kind of skills you will need to have.

If you feel that you already possess all the skills necessary, that's great - go ahead and apply. If, however, you find that you don't seem to have the abilities that will be expected of you, don't worry your job hunting isn't over yet, its easier than you may think to gain new skills. So-called 'transferrable skills' can be gained by joining a club or organisation, doing some voluntary work or even just by doing a hobby. For more job-specific skills there are hundreds of training courses available for a massive range of jobs and skills. The next step is to scout around for job vacancies in the area which you are aiming for - with resources like the extensive jobs pages on friday-ad.co.uk, looking for a job is the easy bit.

Once you have found the job or jobs you want to go for, the next step is applying. Have a look at our guides on the application form, the interview and other career-related topics for further help. As a final point, don't be disheartened if you fail to land the first job you apply for, as at a time like this there may be a lot of competition for one post. Keep job hunting and it won't be long before you land the job you desire.

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