When you are job hunting, you need a little help along the way. What job hunting tips do you think will help you land the job you need, as quickly as possible? Try these sure fire methods to increase your chances of getting hired as fast as possible without a hitch.

1) Become an expert/specialist before you start the job.

Today, employers need specialists. Some would even rather hire specialists in certain disciplines such as software design and engineering to work at home on an independent contract basis than to have an in-house employee who was less than an expert at what they do. If you can show that you are an expert in a particular area, you may be able to create your own jobs and positions and land a job fast. Remember on your job hunt that employers are hunting for experts, so if you convince them that’s what you are, you will land a job fast.

2) Learn to be a good listener.

Secondly, business managers and employers need people who are good listeners. It does no good that you are good at what you do if you won’t listen to advice or instructions from employers. In addition, they want to know that you will listen to clients and others they deal with in their business on a daily basis as well. So, when you are speaking to a potential employer, take a breath and let them talk, and listen to what they say carefully.

3) Create a template for your job resume.

This is one of those organizational job hunting tips but it is one that can save you a lot of time in the long run. By having a set template that you use each time you apply to a job, you will save yourself a great deal of time and energy working on your resume and cover letter. Granted, it should not be the same for every employer. But create a simple template that you can use which can be tweaked a bit for each potential company you want to apply for, and then just edit the document to fit the new opportunity. This takes a lot less time than having to create a new job resume from scratch each time a new opportunity comes along.

4) Be aware of body language of your interviewer.

Another thing to remember when job hunting is to be keenly aware of the body language of your interviewer. Do they sit straight and look you in the eye when they are talking? Do they smile and lean forward when they speak? These are signs that they are open to you. If, however, they seem to move away while you are talking to them, this may mean you are going to have to work harder to achieve rapport, or that the interviewer feels disconnected from you. You can still win the day, by learning what they want and showing them how you may fit what they are looking for. But always be honest with your potential employers so that you will find the best job for you, rather than trying to be something you are not.

5) Remember to be original.

When on your job hunt, remember that you are original. There is no one else quite like you. This needs to show up in your job hunt and interview situation in a natural way. You should strive to show your employer how you shine above the rest and what makes you unique. Always think like the interviewer and imagine you are on the other side of the interview desk. What is unique about you that an employer would like that you could bring to the job? Play on your strengths and give samples of your work to show your originality. Any examples of times when you thought of new ideas for a previous company, for example, are sure to shine through. Paint a picture of yourself as an innovative thinker, not a mindless bot that was raised in iTunes and Raisin Bran. Be extraordinary.

6) Subscribe to newsletters and job alerts.

Regarding the act of hunting jobs itself, you can increase your chances of landing a good job by subscribing to email job alerts. There are plenty of job hunt services that allow you to subscribe to their publication or newsletter that will let you know immediately when a suitable job comes along. This may also give you a leg up on the competition by letting you know when openings come up. Then you can prepare for your interview long in advance and prepare your resume and materials in advance.

7) Be ready for anything.

Another way of saying this is to ‘be flexible.’ By being open to ideas or jobs that you didn’t think you could do before, you open up a whole new world of possibilities. For example, if you want to be a game designer, but there are no openings for this, consider being a graphic artist at first. Then, over time, once you learn the skills necessary to be a graphic artist, you may also prepare yourself for game design work when it opens up. Also, those who work closest with you may notice your expertise at graphic design and naturally conclude that you may be a good game designer too.

Hunting jobs is like hunting any other kind of game in Australia. You have to be sneaky in your attack, you have to be prepared, and you have to be ready for anything. In addition, knowing what to do as you pursue your job hunt and having a ready template for job resume materials may give you that needed edge and the time you need to brainstorm great ideas that will help you get that job you really want. So, prepare your template, subscribe to job alerts, search the want ads, observe the actions of your interviewer, and listen, listen, listen. Be an expert in your field, even before you are given the job and you’ll prove that you’re the best hunter in the jungle. And the best hunter always lands his game!