New graduates who are beginning the job search process typically focus on preparing their resumes, answering job advertisements and going to interviews. It’s certainly true that a good resume, well-written cover letter, and a good performance during the interview are important steps in landing that coveted first job. However, this is actually a narrow view of what the novice job hunter needs to do. Many people who are new to the job market may neglect some other factors that can be decisive in finding the right job for them. First of all, it’s good to take stock of your options. Can networking help ease the process? In other words, who do you know that can give you a chance in an entry-level job? This doesn’t have to be someone in your family circles – it might also be someone that you worked together with if you volunteered your time for a charity, or did an internship as part of your study program. There may even be an alumni network of people who graduated from your university and now might be in a position to give you a job – it doesn’t hurt to inquire. And there’s another important factor that new job hunters often forget to pay attention to – themselves. When you start looking for a job, take a day or so to reflect on what you want from the world of work, besides the obvious thing – a way to make a living. What are your interests in life? What values are most important to you? What strengths do you have that might make an impact on the world? And finally, what are your goals in the long term? Of course, few people ever manage to find the ideal job that matches them perfectly, even after they get years of experience under their belt. One can’t expect to find it right off the bat. Even so, try to broaden the way you think about the job search. ____________________________. This can result in you not only finding a way to make ends meet, but a job with a future that is also a good fit for you as a person.