"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca (Roman Philosopher, Mid 1st Century A.D.)

Good fortune, in some way or form, comes to us all. It is they who are prepared to receive it that notice its arrival and reap the rewards. When it comes to your job search, you should leave nothing to chance and employ as many strategies and tools as possible to ensure the best chance for success. Here are some recommendations for maintaining your work area that will make you more search efforts more efficient and effective:

The Different Divisions of "Mission Control"

If executed with diligence, your job search will have many facets. You will manage searches with multiple online job boards (some highly specialized), record contacts and conversations with multiple personnel from various organizations, customize resumes and related documents for each employer submission, and track your countless follow-up efforts. To ensure you stay on top of the myriad of strategies and tactics you have in place at one time, you need to establish a stand-alone control area where nothing outside of the job search realm takes place:

Separate Control Room - If available, utilize a low-traffic room with a door that you can close to reduce outside noise. Keep it neat and clean. You need room to pace and clutter distracts you from thinking clearly. Print your favorite motivational quotes and post around the room. You want to create a positive atmosphere to carry you through any unsuccessful efforts.

Desk – Be sure to stock your desk with the basics (pens, highlighters, correction tape, notepad, telephone message pad, 10x13 envelopes). As with the room, keep your desk clear of clutter and establish a separate area for hot items that require immediate attention.

Computer and Printer – If you share a desktop computer with family members or roommates, arrange priority access in advance before beginning your search. Organize your computer file tree to make documents easily accessible. Create a separate desktop ID from the rest of the household and keep your virtual world desktop as clean as you keep the real world desktop. Maintain separate areas for job search file shortcuts and related programs. Of course, a laptop of your own makes this a much easier task.

If you are going to print resumes from your printer at home, make sure the printer is one of quality. Guard against fuzz around the printed letters and streaks on the page. Be sure the high quality setting is just that. The text should be dark and rich. If you don't own a quality printer, bring your files to a professional copy center such as Kinkos and have them to print your resumes for you on high quality resume paper.

Telecommunications - If the room does not have a phone line, perhaps you can purchase a cordless phone instead of incurring the cost of installing another phone jack. For about $25, you can get an inexpensive headset that can be utilized during employer contacts and phone interviews. This allows you to record the notes of your conversations unencumbered by having to hold the receiver. Additionally, you won't be distracted by weary arms during a lengthy interview session.

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