There are three major components to a successful job search -- focus, determination, and persistence. To get the job you want you must narrow the search to a specific type of job, define the skills and accomplishments that set you apart from the rest, and keep at it until you land the job you want.

"Job candidates must distinguish themselves from the mass of similarly qualified people," said Ted Warren, president of Strategic Resources in the state of Washington. "A candidate must identify and quantify accomplishments," he added. "It's not enough to simply state you were vice president of sales and marketing for XYZ Company -- you have to tell the prospective employer what you have accomplished, how you did it, and perhaps even more importantly, what you can do for them. You must also be prepared to back up your claims with facts and figures."

Make a list of 10 companies that interest you. Decide whom you need to contact. When you call them, be honest; tell them you are looking for employment. Here's a hint. Reverse your call list. Make your first cold call on the company you would least like to work for. That way, by the time you get to the top of the list, you will have gained some experience.

To arrange a job interview, use the old salesperson's trick of offering two positives. Ask, "Should we meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m. or Wednesday at 10 a.m.?" That way the company is less likely to palm you off to a Web site or have you simply send in a resume and you get a face-to-face meeting.

Before the meeting, do your research. Most companies in the automobile business already have Web sites, so check them out. And check out the competition as well. Knowing the field and the proper buzzwords can really help. If you are conducting your own job search, there may not be as many candidates as there would for an advertised job that is asking for resumes, but the interview is still important as the company could be considering "creating" a job for you. Keep this in mind and carefully explain what you can do for the prospective new employer.

If you are approaching an independent service provider, they may not have a Web site, but you can still do your research in person. Check out the shop, see if the technicians are ASE certified, check the lineup in the morning, the cleanliness of the shop, and the type of vehicles they are working on. If you have special training on certain vehicles or with special systems, by all means, let the shop owner or manager know both on your resume and during the job interview.

If you are targeting the larger automotive firms, you may wish to work with a recruiter or perhaps two. In fact, most recruiters expect their clients to work with at least one other firm. Just be upfront about it; don't try to hide it. Knowing there is another firm working to place you may make them more competitive and aggressive on your behalf. Approach recruiters the same way you would a prospective employer -- know the recruiter's specialty (in this case automotive) and do your homework. Don't just send them a "Dear Recruiter" letter.

Recruiters say the best way to get in the door is with a referral. "From a recruiter's perspective, the best thing is to be referred by someone we know," said Scott Simmons, vice president at Crest Associates in Chicago. "We are inundated with e-mails and while I'm open to a face-to-face courtesy meeting, I always tell people it's best to be referred by someone we know."

Once you have lined up an interview, nail down the basics. You have to understand the company. Know what the company makes or does. Know the company's brands and their competition. Be a smart job candidate -- tell the company what you can do for them, but don't tell them how to run the company; that's a mistake made oftentimes by the inexperienced or rampantly egotistical job candidate.

If you are smart, creative, and persistent, you can land the job. A successful job search takes preparation, persistence, (without becoming a pest) and time.