Top level job searchers have a better chance of succeeding when there is a high degree of depth, insight and precision behind their search strategy. In today's very tight market you'll need a depth of knowledge about yourself, your situation and your potential. Senior management and experienced recruiters are able to detect the degree you have those insights. It is obviously important, and worth your special effort.

A top job coach can often help you produce the "Surgical Precision" you will need, resulting in crystal clear thinking and the ability to breeze through tough interview questions. It will also have an impact on everything you do including your cover letter and resume. Here is how:

"Dig Deeper:" Identifies blind spots that hold you back, what you can't see and what blocks your future. Important questions:

What is the issue that held you back from moving up at the last company?

How are you really viewed by your peers, your management?

What is your number one fault or defect?

Deep inside what would you really want to do and what does your partner think?

If the last job was a grind what would you like to do most?

What is the defining moment in your life?

What would your parents say about your failures?

"Be Sharper:" Working from the "Dig Deeper" insights your advisor, or coach, will take you through simulated interviews, helping you anticipate and handle those uncomfortable questions. Key considerations:

Can you talk about what didn't work?

Are your answers concise and credible?

Does your posture and body language communicate confidence?

Do your answers provide insight and precision?

Do your answers provide the underlying cause or just the surface reasons?

Would you be perceived as strategic or tactical or both?

Are your answers direct and to the point?

The degree of depth, detail and understanding about you has a great deal to do with how you address the challenges of going through the job search process including the tell tale interviews. Addressing the issues, blind spots and what drives you can be identified by forcing yourself to a level of "Surgical Precision."

You may have avoided or covered up issues in the past, but a top level advisor, or job coach, can make a contribution to "digging deeper" and helping you "be sharper." If you are seeking to move your career along you must go to a level of "Surgical Precision." "Digging Deeper" will not be easy and having crystal clear thinking with an ability to breeze through tough interview questions will take some challenging practice. However, this approach, while very tough, is proving to produce amazing job search results.

Research has shown that the average adult changes careers at least 3 times during their life (and often more than that). That figure makes sense when you consider how much we grow over time and that a career spans at least 40 years. Over time our values, priorities, and interests change and we often find ourselves looking for something different from our work. The career we found ourselves in during our 20s may differ greatly from where we would like to be in our 50s. Although many of us realize at some point that we would like to change careers, there are many things that hold us back - lack of direction, fear, money, or uncertainty can all contribute. These simple strategies can help get you started on finding the career of your dreams.

1. Assess your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Make a list of what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. This list should include everything you enjoy - even if it is just a hobby for you. Ideally, you want a career that allows you to use your strengths and perform work that you love doing all day. Along the same lines, you don't want a career that doesn't fit your interests or your skills. This will make your days long and lead to dissatisfaction in your job.

2. Research your career choices based on the preferences you identified in the first step. This may include taking a couple of professional career assessments. The benefit of career assessments is that they help identify things you aren't able to see yourself and can suggest career possibilities that you may have overlooked or not considered. Some assessments can even tell you, based on the test results, how well you would fit in with the "typical" person in that career.

3. Explore the occupations on your list. Speak with someone currently in that career and see what they enjoy and what they dislike about it. Find out what advice they would offer someone entering that profession. If necessary, get additional training or education to further explore the field. Try contract work or an internship to test the waters.

4. Set and define goals. This is a very important step. Having a plan is critical to your success. Setting and defining your goals will help keep you on track and help you measure your progress.

5. Find a coach or mentor. Find someone that can help you through the transition. This may be a life or career coach that can support you along the journey and provide you with accountability and perspective or a mentor that can share his or her experience with you and help you learn the ropes.

6. Network. The importance of networking cannot be underestimated. The old saying "it's not what you know but who you know" is very true. Friends or people with solid business relationships will help each other out. Many people are well connected and can possibly help you find a new job.

7. Make your move. This is the really scary part for most people. Now that you've done the research, explored your interests thoroughly, and set your goals, it's time to make your move and get the job of your dreams!

While changing careers and venturing into the unknown can be scary, research and preparation can help you make a successful career transition. Finding the career of your dreams can bring you much happiness and help you in living the life of your dreams.