MiddletownJournal.com

If you hope to land a better job in the new year, it goes without saying that the task is likely to be challenging given the current economic environment. But there are steps you can take to increase your chances of success.

Begin the process of turning your goal into reality by updating your resume. Highlight your most marketable skills, tailor your content to each opportunity and be a meticulous proofreader. The following job candidates should have inspected their documents more closely before submitting them to prospective employers:

"EXPERIENCE: Writer and editor. I can prove read your work."

We'll need more proof.

COVER LETTER: "If you can help me with a job thad would be awesome."

If Thad is as great as you say, we'd like to meet him.

"EDUCATION: Graduation was one of the happiest days of my loaf."

He must consider his diploma the best thing since sliced bread.

"OBJECTIVE: To work for a company where I can use my previous and current experience effectively and productively meat expectations."

You need to beef up your proofreading skills.

"OTHER: My smiles are known to be contagous."

Looks like your spell-check program has a virus.

"QUALIFICATIONS: I meet the citeria you are looking for."

You haven't quite convinced us.

Some job seekers mention the career aspirations of friends and family members in their application materials.

This is a mistake. Your resume and cover letter should always focus on you and you alone. Consider this peculiar pitch:

COVER LETTER: "My spouse and I are looking for work. We share a car, so we are looking for an environment where we can work together. This would be our only job, so please feel free to contact us, and I'm sure we can work something out."

Two for the price of one.

Max Messmer is chairman and CEO of Robert Half International, a specialized staffing firm, and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies, 2nd Edition.