Since I graduated from college in May of this year, I've been to eleven on-site job interviews and participated in five phone interviews. Although I'm impressed by these feats, it should be noted that it took more than two months and 125 resumes (with cover letters, of course) to get to this point.

It's a tough world out there for college grads, but despite that, I wouldn't change a thing about my job hunting experience. As a result of the countless e-mails, phone calls, and letters, I've managed to gain eleven opportunities to experience how professionals communicate and conduct themselves in a non-academic environment. Each time I get an interview, my mother says the same thing: "Assume you won't get the job, and use this interview as practice for the ones to come." Oddly enough, treating an interview as a practice scenario has enabled me to relax, showcase my best qualities, and observe the responses of my interviewers. And it's paid off, too. I've learned that all employers want the same thing, even if the jobs are different, from an ideal job candidate: flexibility, reliability, a strong sense of organization, the ability to work alone and as a team member in a group, the ability to prioritize tasks, and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely.

To that list, I'd like to add the ability to listen and loyalty. It's true that most of us can hear the world around us, but how many of us actually listen to the people we're talking with? Pay strict attention to your boss or coworker when they speak to you, and do your very best not to speak while they are speaking. When I speak of loyalty, I refer to the length of time a person spends at a company. A friend suggested that I stay with a company for at least three years before I consider looking for my next career step. With the exception of men and women who work in the film industry, the first thing a potential employer looks at in a typical resume (beyond your skills) is how many jobs you have occupied in the last five to ten years. If your resume has more jobs than it does the number years between graduating from college and now, you may want to consider taking a job with the intention of staying with it for more than two years. An employer wants someone who will be productive and remain with the company for awhile, not an individual who will jump ship less than a year later.

Before you even consider the job interview, consider the methods that will get you that interview. At this moment, there are millions of college students, young and old, looking for the first post-collegiate job, but if you polish and invest in the ideas below, you will gain a greater advantage:

The Resume - Think about the last five years and write down all the jobs you have occupied in that time. Now write down the major skills you acquired and the major duties you performed on those jobs. Using that information, go onto Microsoft Word, pick one of the delightful resume templates, and add the information where needed. I personally don't use an objective because I have yet to see a professional resume that has one, but to each her own. In my resume, I include a Professional Experience section (which includes all PAID job experiences that are relevant to the job I'm applying for), a Related Professional Experience section (non-paying and volunteer jobs that are worth noting), an Awards & Presentations section (pretty self-explanatory), an Equipment & Software Proficiency section (note all software and equipment you already know how to use well), and last is my Education section, which names where I want to school, the name of my major, what degree I obtained (Bachelor's Degree, in this case), and when I graduated. If you think it is necessary, include your GPA. Since a resume is such an important tool in the job search, show it to as many professors and experienced job seekers as you can. If you know anyone who has experience interviewing and hiring job candidates, definitely get their input as well.

The Cover Letter -This letter is as important as a good resume, because sometimes you can't fit all of the skills you learned in a job on the resume. I use cover letters to discuss specific tasks I have accomplished at a past job and how this accomplishment relates back to the job description of the position I'm applying for. If you can prove to a potential employer that you have the experience they're looking for and you're able to back up that experience with a specific instant where you used it well, you will make a very positive impression. Keep the letter short – no more than four paragraphs on one page – and clearly state the reason why you are writing this letter. The first sentence of my typical cover letter reads: "I am very interested in applying for the (JOB TITLE) position at (COMPANY NAME)." I use the first paragraph to mention that I have all the skills mentioned in the job listing (I also mention where I found the listing), and name a short list of basic skills I've done in the past, such as answering phones and sorting the mail. The second paragraph details a specific instance where I needed to put my organization and technological skills to use, and I explain the positive outcome (don't tell a potential employer you failed to complete a task – use an instance where you succeeded) of my ability to stay on task. My third paragraph details my other two major skills: writing and customer service skills. I discuss how I've used them and what awards I received as a result of using these skills well. The final paragraph should reiterate your desire to be considered for the job, and that you have the skills to do it well. Don't forget to thank the person reading (if you don't know who to send it to, address it 'To the Human Resources Department'), and give them a way to contact you. My final sentence reads: "Thank you for your time and review of my resume, and please feel free to contact me using the phone numbers and e-mail address on my resume." Like your resume, you will have to tailor your cover letter to different audiences, addressing specific skills as they relate to the job description. Avoid sending the same generic letter to all the companies you apply to – you never know if they compare the letters they receive, and by demonstrating that you can adapt your letter and resume to any company, you prove your versatility and value.

Apply for Multiple Jobs - As you can see with my stats, the odds of getting called for an interview are slim unless you apply for as many jobs as you can. I started applying for at least four a day, and I did my best to start the search before I even graduated from college. There are also job listing search engines that you can join. I personally found Monster.com to be useless, but I fared better on Idealist.com and smaller, local job search engines. Pay close attention to the Required skills and the Preferred skills that are listed on the job listing. Required means you absolutely, positively must have them in order to succeed and be productive for the company. If you have any or all of the Preferred skills, you will stand a better chance of being seriously considered for the position. That being said, apply for anything you think would be a good fit for you. You may discover that, while you don't possess all of the Required skills, a company may like you so much that they'd be willing to train you so that you can have and use those skills on the job. Remember, the more jobs you apply for, the better your chances are. The worst they can do it say no.

Mock Interviews - If your school doesn't have a career development center, pick up the phone and call your university's president NOW and insist one is created immediately. Seriously, do it NOW. If that's not possible, arrange to meet with a career development representative from a nearby university. As paying students, you have the right to access a department where trained professionals are available to review your resumes and cover letters, and offer something called a Mock Interview. These are fake interviews, but you are required to dress up in an outfit/suit that you would wear to a real resume, and conduct yourself as if you were being interviewed for a real job. Typically, the Mock Interviewer will tape your session, and when it is over, she/he will review it with you. The purpose is to ensure that you're able to discuss your skills and achievements in a professional manner and prove to the interviewers that you are THE candidate for the job. It's actually a lot of fun, and incredibly helpful. I have yet to hear of anyone who got a Mock Interviewer that made them cry or feel worse. A college's success is measured in how well they prepare future professionals, so these interviewers want to help you land a job.

The Interview - There are four simple, yet important rules to follow for all job interviews: dress professionally, bring copies of your resume, arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the designated meeting time, and relax. Remember my mother's advice and treat it like a practice run. Smile, look people in the eye, shake hands with enthusiasm and confidence, and don't speak until the interview is finished. It's okay to let a little bit of your true self out, but at the same time, you are essentially trying to sell the professional edition of yourself. Pretend you're a limited edition action figure. There's only one of you, and you want the interviewers to understand that you're the best, since there is no one else like you, with your exquisite skills and eager personality. Also, research the company's website before the interview, then come prepared with questions of your own. Typical questions I ask include, "What is the next step after the interview?", "What is the corporate culture of the company?", "Are you interviewing anyone else for the position?", and "What are you looking for in the ideal candidate?" Whatever you do, NEVER ask "How much will I be getting paid?" See the next section for reasons why.

Money - No one works for free, but it's a good idea not to put too much emphasis on how much you will make at a potential job. The best bit of advice I ever got was to hold off on giving a salary requirement range. Why? For starters, you don't want to come off sounding like that is the most important reason you want the job (it shouldn't be – the experience you get from the job should be your top reason), and if you give a range that is too high, and exceeds a company's budget for that position, it will kill your chances of being considered. Hold off until the last possible minute. In cover letters that are required to give a salary range, I usually write: "I'm not familiar with the salary range of past (JOB TITLE)s, and I don't know what kind of budget you are working with, so I'd prefer to discuss the issue in person, to allow room for negotiation." If I am called for an interview, and the individual on the phone doesn't mention the typical range and doesn't ask me what my salary requirement is, I go to Salary.com and check to see what people in that particular job earn in the area the job is located in. So if the question of salary comes up during the interview, I can say, "Based on my research, the typical range is (number) to (number), but as I mentioned in my cover letter, I'm very willing to discuss a range that would accommodate your budget." Research…it's a good thing.

Thank You Notes - The process of convincing an interviewer doesn't end after the interview is over. Be sure to ask all of the interviewers for their business cards. Using the address on those cards, send a hand-written (not typed) Thank You note within 24 hours of the interview. If your interview was on a Friday, it is okay if the letter doesn't arrive until Monday. This is your final opportunity to make your candidacy stand out. Make each letter different by pointing out something unique of each person. For example, you might tell Mike the Interviewer: "I appreciate your detailed description of the position. It gave me additional details that I didn't see in the job description I read on Monster.com." Meanwhile, you may tell Jane the Interviewer: "Thank you for the tour you gave me of the office. I enjoyed the interesting facts you gave me for each room we visited." At the end of the note, mention that you are still interested in the job, or some variation of the idea that you are the best candidate for the job. Example: "Thank you for discussing the position with me. I am convinced that I would do an excellent job at the company, and I would enjoy working there, too." I use the words "Yours truly" to close my note, but "Sincerely" works just as well. Thank you letters help you stand out among the other candidates, but they also convince potential employers that you are skilled in the art of connecting with people through letters. Development departments in major companies and non-profits appreciate that skill most especially.

It may take some time for a recent college grad to get their first real job, but putting forth the effort and treating the process of hunting for a job as a job in itself (albeit a non-paying job) will make all the difference. The more you write and adapt cover letters and resumes, the more you will improve your writing skills, which are becoming more and more necessary in the working world. The more you interview, the more confident you will become when it comes to selling your abilities and skills. Most important of all, you will come to trust your instincts. Just because the job pays a lot doesn't mean it will be a good fit for you. A truly great job offers you the opportunity to grow as a human being and advance in the company or in the industry you have chosen to pursue. Take the job that offers you the chance to acquire new and useful skills and paves the way to bigger and better opportunities. Just remember to remain loyal and pay attention as you do it.