Choosing a new career path is one of the most important decisions you can make. No matter what your level of experience is, ensuring you choose the right position, at the right company, with the right salary is just as important as any other life-effecting decision.

Did you know the average full-time hours actually spent at work during a week are 39.5* so its important that you choose your career wisely. Whether you are just starting out, want to progress up the company ladder or want to move on and build your experience, your priorities should be to research and get as much good advice as you can and carefully evaluate your priorities – only then should you even think about dusting off and updating your CV.

General advice

This isn’t meant to be a definitive guide to the ‘perfect job search’ but hopefully it will help you with the fundamentals and guide you to other resources that may be helpful depending on your circumstances. The two main things to remember:

• Know what is out there and make sure you’ve researched exactly what opportunities and career routes are available to you. Organisations like www.learndirect-advice.co.uk offer free independent careers advice for people at any level over the phone, online and by e-mail. Sometimes a career you’d never thought of branching into could turn into your ideal position.

• Know yourself and keep in mind other circumstances that may affect your decision: location, debts, personality, future ambitions. Take a step back occasionally - especially if you are offered a job - and make sure you are making decisions with the broader picture in mind.

If this is your first job search the trick is to be prepared...

Connexions Direct – For ages 13-19, Connexions Direct offers information and advice to help you make the decisions and choices in your life.
Learn Direct Advice – Free careers advice for all ages, abilities and experience
Graduate Prospects – Graduate Careers website – with job opportunities and careers advice
TDA – Thought about teaching? Whatever your circumstances, if you're still at school, about to graduate, or looking for a change of direction, there are more ways to enter the profession than ever before.

Here are also some useful publications to look out for during your search (and if you're an employer who wants help and advice on how to advertise a position in the following publications please contact the CJA Recruitment Advertising Team on 0207 588 3588):

Accountancy: Accountancy (Monthly), Accountancy Age (Thursday), Financial Times (Monday/Thursday)

Arts/Entertainment/Museums: A-N Magazine (Monthly), The Art Newspaper (Monthly), Arts Professional (Monday Fortnightly), Museums Journal (Monthly), The Stage (Thursday)

Banking/Finance: The Economist (Friday), Financial Times (Monday/Thursday)

Building/Construction: Building (Friday), Building Engineer (Monthly), The Architects Journal, BD `Building Design` (Friday), Construction News (Thursday), Estates Gazette (Saturday)

Catering/Hospitality: Caterer and Hotelkeeper (Thursday), Restaurant Magazine (Wednesday)

Creative/Design: Design Week (Thursday), Creative Review (Monthly), Professional Photographer (Thursday), Guardian Newspaper (Mondays/Saturdays)

Education: TES (Times Educational Supplement (Friday), Guardian Newspaper (Tuesday), Portico (Friday)

Engineering: The Engineer (Monday - fortnightly) rofessional Engineering (Wednesday - fortnightly) Engineering (Monthly), Daily Telegraph

Housing/Regeneration: Inside Housing, Estates Gazette (Saturday), Property Week (Friday), Regeneration & Renewal (Friday)

IT/Computing: Computer Weekly (Tuesday), Computing (Thursday), IT Week (Monday), New Media Age (Thursday)

Legal: Legal Week (Thursday), The Law Society's Gazette (Thursday), The Lawyer (Monday), The Times (Tuesday)

Not-for-Profit/Charity: Third Sector Magazine (Wednesday), Guardian Newspaper (Wednesday), Community Care (Thursday), Charity Times (Bi-monthly)

Nursing: Nursing Standard (Wednesday), Nursing Times (Tuesday)

Retail: Retail Week (Friday), The Grocer (Saturday)

Public: Times Public Agenda (Tuesday), Guardian Newspapers (Wednesday)

Sales/Marketing/Media/PR: Marketing (Wednesday), Marketing Week (Wednesday), Guardian Newspaper (Mondays/Saturdays), Media Week (Tuesday), PR Week (Thursday)