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While the job market remains strong for skilled administrative professionals that doesn't mean you're guaranteed a job if you're searching. Finding a new job is tough even for the best administrative professionals. Here are some tips to increase your chances of landing an admin position sooner than later.

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Tips for Overcoming Job-Search Frustration

by Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team

If you’re in the middle of a job search, there might be moments when you feel frustrated and fatigued. Despite submitting countless applications or posting your resume online, your phone may not ring. You may interview for an administrative job and never hear back from the company, or you could be offered the position you sought only to find out that the compensation is lower than you expected.

But the job market remains strong for skilled administrative professionals, and with the right approach, you can significantly increase your chances of landing the position you seek. When looking for a job, keep the following tips in mind:

• Set goals. When you’re between jobs, you may miss the feeling of accomplishment derived from completing tasks and meeting objectives on a regular basis. Make up your own “to-do” list by setting daily or weekly targets for your job search.
   
• Get to work. Be disciplined in your employment search and devote several hours each day. In this period of time, network with professional contacts, find career development classes and, if needed, seek career counseling in the administrative field.
   
• Find the right targets. You could improve your odds of landing a job by narrowing your focus. For example, instead of e-mailing or faxing a generic resume to every company advertising an open position, develop targeted materials and send them to a small list of the most appealing firms.
   
• Stay positive. A long and vexing job search can test your patience and self-confidence. Recognize those feelings of doubt, accept them and redirect your energy back toward your professional goals. Rather than thinking, “I’ll never get a job,” say, “I haven’t found the right job yet — but I will.”
   
• Ask why. If you interviewed for a job but were turned down, follow up with the company and ask why you didn’t land the position. Keep in mind that not all hiring managers will have the time to offer detailed criticism, but even one or two tips about areas you should improve upon could prove invaluable.
   
• Seek expert assistance. Register with a staffing firm and ask a representative for suggestions on how to improve your approach. These professionals can provide tips and feedback on current market conditions and hiring trends in your field. Also, they can help you locate temporary administrative jobs that will allow you to keep working while you search for full-time employment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.