Only a parent could offer the kind of advice Jessica Donnelly got when she started her first job: "My old-fashioned mother warned me to have my clothes ready and bag packed the night before," says Donnelly, a 2005 Marist College graduate who works for a New York City-based public relations firm. "She also told me to eat a good breakfast and arrive early."

Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. 

Job seekers often spend countless hours developing their resumes and then treat their cover letters as an afterthought. This can be a critical mistake; the cover letter can help your resume get noticed.

You've been unemployed for six months. You think you're too old, fat or stupid to find a job. Keep thinking that way, and you'll prove yourself right. Negative thinking and speaking can derail your job search.