In today's highly copetitive world, neither a high school diploma nor a college degree ensure success in the work force. Now you need both a good education and some extra preparaation that relates to job knowledge and skills.

Whether you're still in school or been in the work force a while, if you you're not sure what career you want to pursue, jot down a list of things you enjoy, make a list of things you are good at and then compare the two lists to see if there are any matches. If you really like to do something and do it well, it might be a good career option.

To find out whether you could make a living doing something you like, do some career field research at the library. Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is available in book form, on CD-ROM and on the Internet. It lists just about all the types of jobs in America, the education and skills you need to get them, the pay and working conditions and the opportunities they offer for landing even better jobs in the future. The handbook also may be helpful to people who are changing jobs or reentering the work force after taking a leave or reitrement.

Labor statistics show that young people entering the work force today will likely change jobs seven to 10 times in their careers. But before rushing into a voluntary job change, it's important to develop a strategy to make sure you land a better job than your current one.

For those planning to make a job change or to reenter the work force, try to keep your current skills up to datea and learn new skills up to date and learn new skills that will help you acquire a desired position. It also helps to network by talking to people who may help you find jobs, like family, friends, neighbors and former coworkers. You may also want to attend job fairs, go to employment agencies or try temporary positions.

For anyone planning to find a job, a good resume is essential. While you want it to stand out, you also want to organize it so that an employer can spot pertinent information right away.