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Patience. It's a difficult trait to possess when you're in the middle of a job search. This is especially true when you're miserable in your current job. You think any job would be better than the one you're in now. Caution: Tread carefully; you don't want to make any decisions in haste and out of desperation. That can lead to an even less favorable job which will cause you to go through the whole job search process again'much sooner than you would have liked.

Make sure it's a good fit for you

Have you ever read about an open position and got so excited over it that you could actually picture yourself in that job and moving up the career ladder with a fantastic company? Potential reality: You interview with the company and the culture doesn't fit with your lifestyle, the people are not friendly and overtime is expected. Has that ever happened to you?

Save your judgment of the jobs you apply for until after your interview. Yes, you need enthusiasm but try not to get too invested in a particular job before you know much about it. It's easy to sound great on paper but it's much more difficult to win you over in person. Be very aware while you're there and pick up on subtle clues as to the overall atmosphere. If it feels tense as a visitor it can be 100 times worse as an employee.

It's All in Who You Know

It's a well-known fact that many jobs aren't advertised online, in the newspaper or elsewhere. How are jobs filled then? By networking. It's all about keeping connected to people you know well, and even those you don't know well.

An added benefit about networking is that you know more about the company beforehand. For example, Steve works at ABC Company. You tell him in passing that you're looking for a job. He happens to know of an opening in his company that would be 'perfect' for you. Steve takes your resume and personally delivers it to the hiring manager.

However, before you even get that far, you need to have a very open and honest conversation with Steve. Ask him how the company operates and about corporate politics. Find out about their views on work-life balance. You can even inquire about vacation and benefits before you interview to see if it's what you need and expect. All of this 'inside' information is invaluable.

Buyer's regret

Job seeker remorse can be brutal if you jump into a new job without knowing much about the company. If you accept a job for the fact that it's a small company and you've always wanted to work for a small company, then you don't know what kind of surprises you may encounter. Be sure that you don't overlook a lot of negatives simply for the fact that is has one huge positive.

Changing jobs can be a great experience and change your life for the better. Just make sure you know the facts before accepting the job. Once you turn in your two-week notice at your soon-to-be ex-employer, it's too late to turn back.