Many people buy into the “hard to find a job” headline. It can be hard to find a job, but it isn’t as tough as the media is making it out to be.  If you stay strong, stay consistent and use the right tools – you should find a job quicker than people who are busy complaining that the work isn’t out there.

The first step is to review your resume. What does your resume say about your skill set and work ethic?  Make sure your resume is concise, uses proper spelling and has the triple threat elements. These elements are categories that make you stand out.

#1 – Job titles. Don’t forget to add these in. Many people do forget – double check your job titles before your print another resume.

#2 – Be honest. You will get caught in a lie. If you skew the truth, don’t bother sending out the resume.  It is a waste of time and effort. If you lack the qualifications for the job then explain how you are working on becoming qualified.

#3.  Check your use of verbs. This seems small but it can make a huge difference when it comes to employment and unemployment. For example, instead of saying “Served as patient contact for getting bills and contacting insurance,” say “Liaised with patients and insurance companies, and managed financial transactions.”

Once you have your resume reviewed move on to knowing how to pass the behavioral interview. That’s right, many employers are using strict tactics to ensure the candidate is looking for long-term employment and not just another job.

Below are the most common behavioral interview questions. You don’t want your answer to appear practiced, but you should have the answer’s concept in your head before the interview. You don’t want to sit in front of a potential employer in awkward silence as you think of an example.

A: “Describe a time you had to work with someone you didn’t like.”

B. “Tell me about a time when you had to stick by a decision you had made, even though it made you very unpopular.”

C. “Give us an example of something particularly innovative that you have done that made a difference in the workplace.”

D.  “How would you handle an employee who’s consistently late?”

Once you have your resume polished and have a good idea on how to answer questions in the behavioral interview know that you are on your way! Being prepared leads to confidence, which is also a major factor when it comes to landing a job!