The deepening national recession has generated its fair share of grim news in the labor market as of late. With the U.S. unemployment rate above 7% for the first time in more than 15 years, employers are now becoming much more selective in their hiring practices.

With much more competition these days for each and every job, it is essential to understand fully about what employers are looking for when selecting a new employee. Conversely, you need to know what actions by job candidates frustrate employers, which, in turn, can lead to missed opportunities for job seekers.

This emploment article was not specifically written for fashion careers.  However, the tips are appropriate for any industry.

There are three principal stages of career development. These include:

1. Self-assessment (Who am I?)

2. Career Exploration (Where am I going?)

3. The Job Search (How do I get there?)

An individual who has completed the first two stages will be more carefully prepared to take on the final stage. Getting started can be the hardest part, but investing your time will be worth the results.