20 Secrets to Win a Great Job

One of the keys to growing a net worth over time is selecting and excelling in a profession of your choice. But how do you get that first job (or a better job if you're in one that's going nowhere)?  Here are my favorite tips from a Bankrate article that gives you 20 suggestions on how to get a great job:

1. Define your goal. Yes, a job. Now, beyond that, if you could do anything, what would you do?

4. Plug in to your existing network. Contact family and friends. Chances are someone will know someone, who knows someone, who does something in your field.

12. Prep for your interview. Especially important: behavior questions.

13. Understand what "tell me about yourself" really means. "Nobody cares where you went to elementary school," says Ryan. Before you go for the interview, analyze the job. "Take five top selling points, your experience and skills, and link them together in a couple of sentences," she says.

16. Demonstrate what you can do for the company. What companies really want to know: What can you do for them? Employees are "added to the payroll to make a contribution in a specific area and to solve or prevent problems in a specific area," says Yate. Show them how hiring you would make their jobs easier.

18. Follow up with a note. Hand-written, not an e-mail, says Ryan. Include a few points on why you're the right person for the job. If it's down to two people, the note "could swing it your way," she says.

I can't stress how important number 12 is. It can make all the difference. Be prepared and practice ahead of time. You'll be more confident, appear more relaxed and have great answers that really connect with the employer.

Update: Time to link to the Beltway Traffic Jam.