So many of us treat career searches as we would a shopping expedition.  We go online and look at the jobs, all dressed up to look their best.

Ooh, that one looks like fun! 

We try on the title, the name of the organization, picturing ourselves in a new role with its associated salary.  And with just a few clicks, we can apply for it.

This approach to job searching may seem fun at first, but after a few rejections, the process starts to wear on us.  Or worse yet, if we accept this pretty new job, we may find out it's not the best fit.  But don't worry, most of us won't even get to that point. 

To put it bluntly, the window-shopping approach is almost guaranteed not to land you the job.

Why not?

First off, if this is your approach to job hunting, take a look at the list of jobs you applied to.  Chances are, they're all over the map. 

This is the shopping equivalent of going to a store looking for "something nice" and coming home with a shopping bag full of random items.  The psychic benefit of this shopping trip is the emotional high you got from purchasing something new.  This high is temporary and often ends in buyers' remorse when the bill arrives. 

Let's contrast this random shopping trip with a more targeted approach. 

You have a big job interview coming up at a bank.  You know that a conservative-looking suit would be the most appropriate attire.  You don't have an appropriate outfit, but you know that the department store downtown carries similar items, and has been advertising a sale. 

You go to the store looking for that suit, and accepting a salesperson's help to make sure that you're evaluating all reasonably-priced options.  You choose three possible suits, try them on, and find one that fits you well. 

In the dressing-room mirror, you see a sophisticated professional looking back at you.  Knowing this is "the one," you make the purchase and take the suit home, feeling the satisfaction of finding the right fit. 

When your interview rolls around, you put on the new suit and instantly remember the feeling of confidence you got in the dressing room.  That confidence helps you to be your best, to make the lasting impression you need to land the job.

What's the lesson here?  In order to find the best job, you need to know what you're looking for.  And that means you need to know how to define a good fit.

In the clothing metaphor, you knew that the suit needed to fit the culture of the company.  You also knew your clothing size and your price range.  Also, you'd have related considerations, such as whether you had a shirt or shoes to match the suit.

It's the same story with a job.  We need to know about your personal culture.  Are you creative or are you systematic in how you think?  What skills, experience and interests do you bring to the table?  What is your salary range, i.e. the lowest salary you'd accept and the amount you'd like to earn?  What experiences are you looking to have?  What do you want to learn?

There are many important questions to ask when looking for a job, but the most important lesson is that before you begin shopping, it's important to carefully consider the person for whom you're shopping - yourself.