How job-seekers should go about getting the jobs they want will depend on what stage they are at in the employment process - whether it is a first job, a job after redundancy or a change of job.

Job-seekers with work experience will have to lower their sights on salary and conditions in current markets, according to recruitment specialists.

Candidates changing jobs had become "fairly haughty" about the salaries they expected in what was a candidates' market over the last few years, according to one recruitment consultant.

Candidates looking for their first job now need to conduct a very aggressive campaign to get the job they want, the agencies advise.

"There is more competition now for most jobs. The jobs will not come to the candidates, they now have to go out there and work to get them," a consultant advised.

Job-seekers need to use all of the potential job sources in their search - agencies, newspapers, the internet, their own contacts and direct approaches to the companies for which they would like to work.

They should use the news sections of newspapers, particularly the business news pages, as well as job advertisements and other sources of information to identify possible opportunities.

They should try to identify the sectors and companies that are doing well and therefore may be in hiring mode.

At the same time they need to focus on what career they want and how they can build up the experience they need to get there.

When they have done their research, job-seekers could write directly to the human resources manager at their chosen companies, enclosing a well-prepared curriculum vitae.

Recruitment specialists advise all job-seekers to treat every interview as if it was for the job they really want to get.

"It is much more competitive now. There are more people up for every job so candidates will have fewer options. Because of this, they need to be more focused and prepare very carefully for the interview," according to Mr Aidan O'Brien from Accountancy Solutions, which specialises in the financial services area.

He advised job-seekers to think much more widely than what starting salary and benefits a particular firm has to offer.

"Look at what the job is offering in terms of experience to build your career. In the financial sector what is important is the breadth and depth of experience built up over a period of time.

"It is important not to specialise too early."