For today's job seeker, less is more--if you do it right. Spend less time applying for a large number of positions, but put more effort into applying for the right jobs.

What's the right job in this market? One for which you already have the skills and experience, live relatively close to, and match the salary level.

You need to stand out from the pack to get the right job. To do this, you'll need to go through a few steps. One trick of the trade is to make your cover letter read just like the job requirement. Follow this example; below is an excerpt from actual job posting from http://www.lotusnotesjobs.com. This position is in San Diego.

Senior Domino System Administrator: Come join a challenging and cutting-edge team! [Name of company], an IBM premier partner, is a fast growing Internet software consulting company that needs individuals to architect exciting e-business solutions, design Domino infrastructures, assist with detailed network problem analysis, and support our large expanding customer base. We create secure, interactive business solutions for the Internet and corporate intranets. Our company rapidly builds, deploys, and manages applications that help our clients, partners, and customers communicate, collaborate and coordinate critical business activities on-line.

The ideal candidate would have four or more years of proven advanced experience in system administration with Notes and Domino. All candidates need to have a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university. Candidate should have good verbal and written communication skills, a good working knowledge of the Internet, information systems, networking issues, and standard protocols. If you are a technical, creative team player, this is the right opportunity for you! Expect an environment where continued learning, innovative consulting, elegant technical solutions, and team camaraderie are experienced daily.

We do not have a VISA sponsorship program at this time. Candidates must possess documents that allow them to work legally in the United States.

First thing's first, if you have lived your whole life in New England, don't rush to apply for this job. Remember, companies are more likely to hire locally or regionally. Secondly, if you only have two years of systems admin experience or most of your time has been spent developing applications, you're probably wasting your time.

Now read the job posting's requirements closely. Most ads have this specifically spelled out. Our goal is to match the position's requirements and responsibilities with your experience, so your resume or cover letter reads very similar to the job posting. Now there's no mistake that you are the perfect fit for the job!

Compare this cover letter to the position above:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am submitting my resume for the position of Senior Domino System Administrator. I believe you'll find that my 5 years of experience in system administration while working for [name of company], a Fortune 1000 manufacturer and [name of company] a leading consulting company, as well as my Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a minor in Information Technology from State University has prepared me for this opportunity. The position's responsibilities are also of great interest to me.