Job hunt blues. (Since You Asked ...).

QA I have been out of work for several months. I've secured a number of interviews, but very few callbacks. I am long past being frustrated and was wondering if there are things I could be doing to increase my odds?

--D. Best
Boston

The job market is tough., therefore, job hunting calls for a tougher and more-focused approach. You didn't mention what area you're pursuing, but you may have to step outside of your comfort zone to better position yourself for opportunities. For example, in engineering, the Northeast has been strongly hit with layoffs, so you would have to compete with many others who have also recently lost their jobs. You might find better leads in cities such as Houston or even Tulsa, Oklahoma, where engineering opportunities are growing.

That type of job hunting requires researching job trends and the current state of your industry and then targeting specific areas for interviews. Consider working in another state--even as a temporary measure--until job opportunities improve in your home state.

You did mention that you've had several interviews. Know that looking good on paper is only half the battle. After that you have to sell yourself. That also requires research and preparation, so that you can articulate how your skirls are perfectly matched for the position and what you can do to advance the scope or the profits of a particular division.

And lastly, you might just be rusty. According to Dr. Richard Bayer, COO of the Five O'Clock Club, a career counseling network (www.fiveoclockclub.com), if you haven't been job hunting in a while "people will ask questions you're not used to answering and you may not sound polished." Ask your spouse, a friend, or a relative to role-play with you to help determine weak areas or areas where you feel insecure.--Sonia Alleyne