In order to be competitive in today's job market, you must stand apart from the competition. Just how competitive is the market? To illustrate this, Nissan North America recently moved their headquarters to Nashville, TN. 158 jobs were originally posted, and more than 13,000 candidates applied! Use our tips for job hunting in today's market to set yourself above the competition.

Even with statistics like this, however, you shouldn't get discouraged. Understand that there is a lot of competition, but by planning and executing your job search you'll be in a much better position to get the job you want.

So what can you do?

Before you even begin your job search, think about the following:

What do I value in a position or a company? What's important to you? If making a difference in the community means a lot to you, consider working for a company that gives back to the community. If you want an opportunity for advancement, look for companies that will provide you those opportunities. Writing down and prioritizing your values will help you better focus and target your job search.

Decide what type of job you want. Many people don't have a clue about what position they want or what type of company they would like to work for. They create generic resumes and blast them out to hundreds of companies, hoping for the best. This only wastes your time and can add to discouragement. Focusing your job search will help you target only the positions and companies that are best suited to you.

What have I accomplished? Think about your current and past positions. How have you helped the companies you worked for be successful? What value did you bring these companies, and what value can you bring a potential employer?

Once you've decided what type of job you want, the values you seek in a company, and how you've helped current and past employers, you're ready to start hunting for a job.

Some of the best tips for job hunting in today's market include: Networking. Believe it or not, networking is still the number one way people obtain new positions. Talk to former colleagues, managers, neighbors, friends and relatives to find out if they know of any available positions. By getting a referral from someone who either works for, or knows, someone looking for help, you're one step ahead of the competition. Personal referrals can help you tremendously in obtaining a new position.

Researching Companies You're Interested In. When creating your cover letter, you should state why you're interested in working for that particular company. When you write your resume, your accomplishments should focus on how you can help their needs. Before you go to a job interview, understand what the company does, what they value, and prepare questions to ask the interviewer. This shows the interviewer that you are interested and excited about working for them.

Learning to Market and Sell Yourself. Even if you don't think you can sell yourself, you do it every day. You sell your ideas to friends, family, and colleagues. The best way to market and sell yourself is by focusing on the needs of the employer. How can you help this company succeed? By identifying their needs, and showing how you can help them, you will stand apart from the competition.

Don't Get Discouraged. If you don't get a particular job, don't dwell on it. Stay focused, and move on. There are many opportunities, and your best opportunity could be right around the corner.

Using the above tips for job hunting in today's market will help you focus and utilize your time wisely when looking for a new job opportunity.