Recruitment agencies can take the fear and effort out of job hunting. Good agencies match job seekers with employers but more importantly, they match the skills and experience of job seekers to the requirements of employers. They may also offer extra services like:-

- help finding training to update your skills.

- advice on how to prepare a CV and how to write a cover letter.

- help brushing up your interview techniques ? some recruitment agencies will give you mock interviews.

Keep in touch with your recruitment agency to check on progress.

As well as registering with some of the more respectable agencies, you will also want to look through the job sections of newspapers for jobs to apply for. But how do you actually go about applying for a job this way? Her are some tips:-

- Don't waste your time or an employer's time by applying to a job that is outside of your skill level.

- Telephone and ask for more details about the job if the advert is short or vague. Doing this will help you to make your CV and letter more relevant to the job.

- Make sure that your CV really sells you. Ask your the agency for help with preparing it. Keep your CV brief and to the point, use bullet points and space it out evenly. Your CV should have sections for your personal details, your skills (in summary), your education, work history and experience, activities and interests, and finally references. Only list skills and experience that are relevant.

- Send a covering letter with your application. Again, your agency may be able to help you with this. The job of a cover letter is to explain why you are the ideal person for the job and how you can benefit the company. Keep your letter short and to the point ? one side of A4 paper is enough. Look carefully at the job details so that you know what the employer is looking for and what to emphasize. Print your CV and letter out on the same paper and use the same font so that they match. Don't forget to make your letter personal ? if a name is mentioned in the advert then address your letter to that person.

Most agencies should be happy to look through your letter to give you pointers.

- Mention any reference numbers from the advert so that the company knows which job you are applying for.

- Follow up your application with a phone call to make sure that your application has been received.

Combine using recruitment agencies with applying to advertised jobs to increase your exposure and to increase your chances of finding a suitable job. Don't forget to check with your agency before applying for a job, they might have already sent your details to that employer.

Most importantly, don't expect miracles - there is often a finite supply of jobs in the real world, most jobs have tens or even hundreds of applicants. Your challenge is to make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light, and keep persevering until the right job comes along.