If you are unemployed and applying for jobs, or looking to change then be realistic and apply for jobs where your talents, skills and personality will enable a good chance of being successful. Applying for jobs that your skills, talents and experience are not quite ready for generally results in rejection and this in turn can lead to a low morale. It is therefore advisable to go through a self-assessment process before applying for any jobs. Generally the best way to do this is to compile a list of positives and negatives. Something you may see as a negative employers may see as a positive so it is advisable to have a friend, mentor, or someone who's opinion you respect look over your list. Some applicants consider this exercise to be hard, some consider it pointless, either way try it and persevere. It will be worth it.

Here are just a small selection of questions you can ask yourself and compile your answers to - it will also help you build your CV. Remember there are no right or wrong answers — it all just helps you find the right job for you and hopefully one which you will be happy in. It is also an enlightening process in finding out about yourself if you answer the questions honestly.

Tip: After each question ask yourself - What does that tell me about myself?

What were my schooling and educational successes? Remember you may have gone through school without being very educationally successful but you may have been a very good organiser, leader or listener. These type of skills are all important to employers and which can be developed.

• Which elements of school / college / university did I like?
• Was I involved in any other activities?
• What are my interests outside of work?
• Am I a team player or do I prefer to work on my own?
• Why do I want to change my job?
• What type of job am I normally attracted to and why?
• Would I be prepared to take less money for a job I would prefer?
• Do family commitments restrict my choices?
• Would I take a job that requires a lot of time away from my home/family?
• Would I take a job that requires lengthy travel time to and from work?
• Would I take a job that requires re-location?
• Do I live to work or work to live?
• Do I pro-actively seek further skills training — or just wait for it to happen?
• How successful have I been in each job I have had?
• Did I benefit in any way from that job?
• Did the company benefit from my employment with them?
• Which elements of each job did I enjoy?
• Which elements of each job did I dislike?
• Have I ever been praised at work or for a job well done?
• How did I react and did I build on it?
• Have I ever been criticised at work?
• How did I react and did I try to rectify it?
• Do I like change and am I stimulated by it?
• Do I feel secure in my job and is job security important to me?
• What do I think of my other colleagues?
• What do they think of me?
• Are other people's opinions important to me?
• What is my age? and is my age seen as a problem?
• If my age is considered to be a disadvantage how can I turn this into an advantage? (remember, experience counts for a lot in the job world these days)
• Do I consider myself to be a happy and well rounded person?

If you have asked and answered all these questions honestly you are now ready to move onto the next stage