[ID:0519]Throughout this guide we stress the importance of having a firm understanding of your skills during the job search.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and being able to steer discussions with potential employers onto topics which demonstrate your suitability, are crucial parts of any job search.

Unless you are good at talking about what you do well, why you do it well, and how you can bring knowledge from past work experience to benefit your new employer, you will have difficulty finding a good job in this competitive market. (RELATED ARTICLE: For a refresher on how to market yourself, see Selling Your International Skills.)

If you've been out of the country for a long time, or if you're changing careers, consider meeting with a career counselor. In one or two short meetings you can get up to speed on changes to the search/hiring process, appropriate vocabulary/jargon for your skills and experience, and new developments in your field. Fees vary, but are usually around $100 per hour...