Every job search is different. You might show up for your first interview and land your dream job right away. Or you might apply willy-nilly to jobs posted on the Internet, and wait to hear from employers all over the country.

Perhaps you choose to rely on friends as resources, or count on recruiters, or sit back and wait responses from online job sites. The options are endless. Which direction will you take?

The success of your job hunt depends on several factors that you can control — your attitude, your preparation, and the steps that you take on your own behalf. It also hinges on a few things that are out of your hands, such as job openings within a specific company.

To achieve the fastest results, focus on the details that you can change and try to avoid some of the most common mishaps that occur on the job search trail. Here are a few to look out for:

Following the rules. Have you been pressured to keep your resume to one page? Join a networking group? Post your documents on major job boards? None of these things are essential.

Don’t waste valuable time trying to figure out the “right way” to job search. Quite simply, there is no right way. This is your career on the line, no one else’s. Make your own decisions. Find your own way.

Confidence and attitude. Employers love confident job candidates. In fact, many companies actively seek them out. Self-assured, enthusiastic workers have a knack for building relationships and bringing in money, which is exactly what businesses want in a new employee.

If you feel gloomy about your career or even the state of the economy, find an outlet for your emotions, but don’t let it drag you down. Your attitude is something that you can control. The economy is not.

Make a list of your accomplishments. Figure out the unique attributes that you can provide to an employer. Remember that there are tons of companies needing good workers right now, regardless of economic highs and lows.

Research and preparation. Lots of job seekers drop the ball, so to speak, when it comes to preparation. The more thoroughly you prepare, the more confident you feel, and the more companies will respond to you as a candidate.

In job hunting, preparation means finding and researching opportunities in your field. It means understanding the ins and outs of a specific company before you arrive for an interview. It means revising your resume until the words practically explode off the page.

Interpersonal relations. In your job search, every relationship that you develop along the way has the potential to help you reach your goals. Follow through with absolutely everyone. It’s polite and strategic at the same time.

Stay in touch with the people on your reference list. Send a quick thank-you note to the assistant that introduced you to the boss. Write a professional and thoughtful response to all interviews, even when you didn’t get the job.

When it comes to getting a new job, many professionals lose track of their original objectives. Most people are reaching for more personal happiness. What about you?

Let your job search enhance your life, rather than weigh it down. Go for it.

Send your job search questions to Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com.