10 Winning Ways to Land the Job You Want

With unemployment at a five-year high, job competition is stiff these days. But whether you're unemployed or simply unhappy in your current position, it's still possible to find new career opportunities.

Just ask Julie Cajigas, who received two job offers after job hunting for about two months (a short job search by most people's standards). She started her new job in mid-July as associate director of development and marketing for a nonprofit organization in Cleveland.

"I think even though it's a tough economy, if you're good at what you do and you take the time to present yourself well, you'll find a job," she says.

Here are tips from Cajigas and others on landing the job you want even in a lean market.

1. Balance dream opportunities with open-mindedness

In an ideal job market, you would narrow your search to a couple of favorite companies and focus on applying for opportunities with them. But as Alexandra Levit, career expert and author of "Success for Hire," points out, "people have to be a little more flexible" in this economy. Be willing to explore opportunities outside of your industry or with companies that aren't name brands.

Cajigas, who had been working corporate communications before she switched to a nonprofit, says she followed job boards like Monster.com and CareerBoard.com and "scanned each day's jobs from start to finish, because sometimes it's hard to anticipate what a position title will be." The job she recently accepted was advertised through her alma mater's job board. "A lot of (career information is) offered for free to alumni," she says.