Choosing a new career path is one of the most important decisions you can make. No matter what your level of experience, 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

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

• Be prepared to work your way up the ladder: Start early. Getting experience before you even begin to look for full time employment in this day and age can be just as important as your qualifications. For example, a prospective employer may be sat with hundreds of CVs from candidates with a marketing degree – but not a marketing degree PLUS part-time holiday experience at a local ad agency with a glowing reference. Be sure that you stand out from the crowd.

• Be prepared with a well structured and up-to-date CV and answers to any interview questions that may come up: Once you have your foot in the door make sure you’ve done your research. Look at their website. Do test interviews with family or friends. Use the internet. In fact the government have a web link on their site Directgov to help create your first CV (but its also useful for revising an old one).

• Be prepared to keep your options open: have a look around, talk to as many different people and organisations as you can. Here are some useful links:

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 an employer who wants help and advice on how to advertise a position in the following publications please contact the CJA Recruitment Advertising Team ):

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)