It’s also essential to success. Proper organization will help with tracking possible opportunities, companies that interest you, the application process, interviewing and follow-up.

Here are some methods and tools that can be helpful:

1. Simple Spreadsheet: This could be all you need to stay organized. You may want to organize it by tabs for “Applied Positions,” “Interested In” and “Interviewed.” Include all the details for each prospective job:

• Date you applied
• Company
• Contact
• Position for which you applied
• Action (Did you speak to a hiring manager? Have you emailed your resume or applied online?)
• Interview (date and details)

2. Tools Built into Job Search Sites: If you apply for a job through job boards, then you may already be managing your applications online. Sites like Monster and CareerBuilder track jobs you’ve applied for through their websites. You can also take the info from your profile on each of the sites and input it into your spreadsheet. That way you have a master file of all jobs for which you applied, but you also have easy access to your application history when you’re browsing jobs directly on a job-seeking site.
3. Job Seeker Software: You can pay for software to help you organize your search. Tools like CleverCareerist, JibberJobber and Worksolver let you arrange your information on the jobs you’ve applied for and keep track of contacts you’ve made through your job hunt. Some of the software lets you schedule calendar items, like interviews and follow-ups.

These job search rules may be better broken than followed:

• One page resume – You’ve probably heard the one-page resume rule, but times have changed and two-page resumes are not taboo anymore IF you really need the extra space to share all of your relative experience. 
• Formal language only – Your resume will probably be more compelling and interesting if written in real language without jargon or stiffness. Pretend you’re describing your experience and achievements to a friend. Be sure you DO use proper grammar and punctuation.
• Include an objective — Hiring managers may not care about your objective as much as they care about what you can do for them. Most objectives aren’t tailored enough to the position. Instead, include highlights or a skills summary.
• Lead with education – Employers care more about what you’ve done in the work world than where you went to college or what your GPA was. Most resumes should list your education below work experience, because the latter will be more relevant to employers.
• “References available upon request”– Like the one-page rule, this is a method from another time. Employers these days assume that you’ll provide references when asked, so you don’t need to say it explicitly.
• Early is on time — Give yourself plenty of time to get there, but don’t walk into the company’s reception area more than five to ten minutes early. Some interviewers feel obligated to interrupt what they’re doing and greet the person or feel guilty for making the candidate wait.
• Ask for the job — This kind of hard-sell tactic might have worked in the past, but today employers don’t want to feel they’re being sold or put on the spot. Instead, treat the interview as a collaborative process where you’re both concerned with finding the right fit.

It’s important to maintain structure throughout your day when you’re unemployed. Setting up a solid job search routine will keep you from getting distracted, help you find a job faster and keep you feeling like a productive part of society.

You day should look something like this:

• Just look — Allocate a significant portion of your day to just looking for a job. Try browsing different career sites or company sites each day to break up the monotony. Set up email alerts or RSS feeds to bring in all of the new jobs daily that match your criteria.
• Apply when it’s right – If you find a perfect job that you’re totally qualified for, apply for it. You may want to do this as you find each job or set a certain time each day or week for the application process.
• Never stop networking – Spend some time everyday networking to find a job. You can do this on professional social media sites, and by finding local events and meetings to schedule in your calendar once or twice each week. Also take time each week to catch up with old friends, colleagues and acquaintances who could aid your search.
• Practice makes perfect — Prep for interviews, even if none are in sight. Think through common and unusual questions and answers. Check out your job interview wardrobe and make sure it’s up to par in case an interview does pop up.
• Pretend you have a job — Do things you did when you had a job. Have a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, be at your computer by 8 am, get out of your pajamas and brush your hair. The less changed your routine is, the easier you’ll find it to focus on finding a new job.
• Get moving — Physical activity should be part of your daily routine. You’ll definitely need regular breaks to get up and take a walk, do some yoga or run to the gym after hours sitting at the computer.

Don’t add these things unless you truly are skilled in these areas though. There are many online classes, videos and tutorials that will help you teach yourself how to be an expert in these subjects.

1. Excel – This is commonly listed on resumes, but often it only means that people have the most basic understanding. But there is a lot more to learn with Excel like formulas and equations, PivotCharts and Visual Basics for Applications.

2. Web Development – Having some knowledge of computer languages like Java, HTML and SQL and web development isn’t just applicable for IT jobs these days. Learning at least some basics in this area can make you more relevant and desirable for many positions.

3. Adobe Creative Suite – Graphic design skills are in high demand. Adobe is commonly used, so if you can get your hands on InDesign, Photoshop or Dreamweaver, you can start learning skills many companies rely on for creating web designs and layouts.

4. Foreign Language – Learning a second language can open up all kinds of doors and could even lead to the opportunity to work in another country. You can teach yourself at home with free online courses.

5. Google Analytics — The ability to track and analyze how Google ranks and organizes information can be invaluable personally and professionally. It can help you manage your online presence while searching for a job, and once you get hired, you’ll be ahead of the game if your company is using Analytics.

Our hiring managers and others can’t always come right out and be as blunt as they might like, so they may be looking for hidden answers to normal questions. With so many applicants and resumes coming across our desks, we have to delve beyond the basics to find potential employees with stand-out traits.

Here are some of the things we really want to know:

• You’ve done it, but how well? It’s not enough just to mention that you were responsible for a particular task or completed a project. We want to know what kind of difference you made, how far you exceeded expectations and other positive results.
• What would others say? If we asked previous managers and coworkers the above question, how would they answer? Was your work “fine” or “fantastic”?
• Works well with others. We want to hire people who are easy, enjoyable and motivating to work with, not someone who always has personal problems or bad moods following them around.
• Little things count. Always on time, follow up when you say you will, send that document you said you were going to send. Even the smallest of details can say a lot about you.
• Work ethic. Getting things done and making things happen in this economic environment is crucial. Employers can’t make you want to do that. You have to naturally have the right drive, motivation, energy and skill.
• Are you resourceful? Rather than getting discouraged when facing a challenge, do you figure out ways to deal with it? No one has time to hold your hand through a particularly demanding project or task.
• Really want the job. We want you to be excited about working with us and not planning to leave six months down the road.

You can make a list of potential questions to ask yourself, then play interviewer or interviewee, or ask a friend or family member to interview you with your list of questions and anything they want to add on the fly.

If you’re not sure where to start with your preparations, this guide will help:

1. Reminisce about the past – Read the job description carefully and think of specific stories or accomplishments from past jobs that show your experience and knowledge. Be sure you include the results in the story.
2. Find your biggest weaknesses – Asking about your weaknesses is very common in job interviews and often hard to answer. If you think about it ahead of time, you’ll seem more self-aware and realistic. Do-ahead prep also gives you plenty of time to turn weaknesses in positives.
3. Research the company – Scour every page of the website, read blog posts and check out Linkedin to see what you can find out about the company’s goals, history, values and employees.
4. Come up with questions for them – You’ll be given the opportunity to ask your potential employer questions, which is really just another way for them to test you, your knowledge and interest.
5. Record yourself – Chances are, you have no idea how you sound. Hearing your own voice and listening to how you come across can be a rude awakening but a very valuable one. Analyze the recording to see if you’re constantly saying “um,” “uh” or “like.” Do you need to slow down, speed up, try to tone back your accent?

But just “going well” may not be enough anymore to make yourself seen and heard while quickly establishing yourself as a crucial part of the company or organization you now work for.

During the first weeks and months on the job, you have the perfect opportunity to stand out and set the tone for the rest of your time in this career.

• Make sure you’re still on track – Many employers use the first three months or so as a probationary period to make sure you’re cut out for the job. Stay on task by regularly reviewing any information you were given during the hiring process. Notes you took, a list of job duties, your job description and initial assignments are good reminders.
• Face time with the boss – If you’re not totally sure of your projects and tasks (or even if you are), meet with your boss or supervisor to go over them. Be prepared with updates and questions to show you’re making progress and thinking critically about each assignment. Ask again what the deadlines are.
• Leave expectations in the dust – After you find out what your boss is expecting, brainstorm on ways to realistically go above and beyond. Get assignments finished early, make suggestions for future projects and offer to volunteer for a committee or team that needs help.
• Become an expert on the company – Thoroughly read through the website, connect on professional social media sites, study past annual reports, news stories and press releases. You will hopefully get a better understanding of the culture, history and structure of the organization.
• Subtly pat yourself on the back – Make your accomplishments visible and noticeable without seeming arrogant by sharing your enthusiasm and passion. People will see that you’re just excited rather than boastful.

Your first days at a new job can definitely be stressful, intimidating, confusing and downright scary!

Arm yourself by knowing these do’s and don’ts and you’ll get off to a great start.

DO:

1. Be friendly and enthusiastic – You probably won’t have time to form friendships with everyone right away, but give people a reason to get to know you better eventually.
2. Ask questions – Be interested in your new coworkers by making small talk about music, movies, TV, sports, etc. Keep it simple, and make sure you don’t take over the conversation by answering your own questions.
3. Learn coworkers’ names – You really should attempt this before you even step foot into the office on your first day. Company websites and Linkedin are good places to start researching.
4. Ask for advice – You’re definitely going to want to learn about the best coffee spots or lunch destinations, so ask others in the office for tips. A coffee or lunch date could definitely come out of these types of questions!

DON’T:

1. Be intrusive — Interrupting conversations or standing and listen when two people are having a private conversation is sure to make you seem nosy or pushy.
2. Get too personal – In the beginning, it’s probably best not to venture into anything personal. Stay away from politics, government and religion. Your opinions on many of these subjects may come out eventually, but hopefully you’ve already formed a solid relationship by that time that can withstand a difference of opinion.
3. Talk about your former employer – People will probably ask where you worked previously, and you can answer, but don’t constantly keep bringing it up or comparing your old and new jobs.
4. Ask coworkers to be friends Facebook – It may feel like the first day of high school, but you’re not actually in high school anymore. The more personal social network sites are probably not where you want to connect to coworkers you just met. Give it a few days, start getting to know people, then connect with people on the more professional site, Linkedin.

There’s so much you can do to help yourself get through this difficult time though. This layoff survival kit will get you going in the right direction right after you close the door behind you.

• Salary and vacation time – Hopefully, you didn’t walk away with just your box of personal belongings. Make sure you get paid to cover your salary through the last day you worked, unused vacation time, sick days, etc.  You may need to contact the HR department to make sure everyone’s records are up to date.
• W-2 – If you’re laid off because the company went out of business, who creates your W-2 report of wage income? Good question. If you haven’t received the form by now, contact the IRS directly to request a substitute W-2. You will be asked to produce your final paycheck of the tax year.
• Health coverage – You are flirting with danger if you allow your health insurance to lapse between jobs. The federal COBRA law, which gives you access to your ex-employer’s group insurance plan after you leave the company, may be the best bet.

Now the time has come to actually quit.

There are definitely good ways and bad ways to do this since you want to be professional, not burn any bridges and move on with your career all at the same time.

Here is a good checklist to use when you’re ready to walk into the boss’ office:

1. Whenever possible, tell your boss in person. It’s a difficult conversation to have, but you will earn respect by doing this. If your boss is in a different physical location, make sure that you share the news via a telephone call at the very least.
2. When telling your boss in person, also submit to them a letter of resignation. It should be brief, carefully written and professional. Make sure you have copies for all departments and managers who may need one.
3. Make sure your boss is the first person you tell. Your boss is not going to appreciate hearing the news through the grapevine.
4. Give plenty of notice and be flexible with the transition time. Two weeks’ notice, minimum. If you can give more, do it.
5. Be careful what you POST. You may be ecstatic about a new job or the fact that you’re leaving an old one, but don’t post anything negative on social media sites even if you think your previous employer will never see it.
6. And be careful what you SAY. Sure, these may be your friends at the office now, but if you go off ranting and raving because you’re out of there, rumors of things you said could come back to haunt you in more ways than one.
7. Wrap up loose ends. Try your best to finish projects or assignments instead of leaving your half-done work for everyone else to pick up.
8. Offer to do training. If you already have a replacement, be nice and see if they need your help with training on daily tasks, filing systems, contacts, etc.
9. Don’t forget to say the magic words. Thank your employer for the opportunity and experience. Good or bad, they were obviously valuable in some way to your career if you’re moving on to new pastures.
10. Don’t change your LinkedIn profile to reflect your new employer until after your first day at the new job. Doing so earlier will just create bad feelings at your existing employer.