A successful job search should begin with a clear road map. Some things you should consider before you start thinking about what kind of job you’re going to look for: Where do you want to be?  Do you like where you live now, would you rather live someplace else? Would you like to travel in your job? Should you try to get a job located in an area where you can pursue further education, or a favorite activity? Do you want to work in a stable, routine environment or are you drawn to being involved in a start up?
       These questions ought to be answered whether you are looking for your very first job or trying to decide whether to stay in the one you have now. Back in the day, people worked for the same company all their lives, and felt secure that the company would employee them until they retired - at age 65. That’s no longer true of either the modern worker or the modern employer.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for your first job or your next - design your perfect job and prepare to look for it.  Here are some basics to include in your design:
*Company culture
     - Laid back, casual dress
     - More professional, with an emphasis on getting the job done ASAP
​     - Friendly, or a little more formal
* Location
     - How far are you willing to commute?
     - Prefer the suburbs to downtown?
     - East coast, West coast, the mountains?     
     -Europe?
     - Work from home
*Benefits
     - Do you need good health insurance?
     - Would you rather have a cafeteria plan that lets you choose benefits?
     - What kind of hours would you like to work - 8-5 for 5 days a week or 3 twelve hour days and then off for 3?
     - Savings plans, 401(k)’s, retirement plan, work incentives
* Training
     - Are you interested in continuing your education and would the company subsidize that?
     - Would you consider a lower paying internship to start?
     After you identify the parts of your ideal job, it’s time to see what they add up to and write your resume focused on highlighting the skills and knowledge you have that fit that job. 
     A well written resume that includes the key words that match the requirements for your ideal job is one of your hiring process basics, so have plenty of them printed and be sure you have one you can transmit electronically.  This is where EBR Consulting can help you.  We excel at working with job seekers who need a professional resume.
     There’s another first thing you should do; look at your social media sites. Clean up the college party pictures, present a more professional image.  Take a hard look at what your friends post on your site, you may want to limit access to some of them. According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com, 37% of employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. That means about two in five companies browse your social media profiles to evaluate your character and personality--and some even base their hiring decision on what they find.
     There’s more to starting your job search, but the biggest step you take is the first one.