One important way to improve your chances of landing a job is to research and be aware of the competition. In this context, there are two types of competition: other companies in your field and other professionals in roles similar to yours. Always be aware of who they are and what they are up to.

Make an effort to "know the competition better than the competitors knows themselves." This will greatly improve your competitiveness on many levels, as well as allow you to capitalize on opportunities that others may not be aware of!

• "Try to know your competitors better than they know themselves."

"My client is envious because she always seems to land the most prestigious accounts and interesting assignments. My client also has an uncanny ability to attract the best designers in the region to work for her. The other agency owners in the area simply shake their heads in disbelief and frustration. "How does she do it?" they wonder repeatedly." words of a famous career coach

"To be honest, it's not because my client's work is so much better than the work of the other agencies. No, the reason she keeps winning is that her investigative research is superior to that of her competitors."

"To be honest, it's not because my client's work is so much better than the work of the other agencies. No, the reason she keeps winning is that her investigative research is superior to that of her competitors. She makes it a point to stay up to date on what's going on in her market, such as which companies are doing what, which accounts are going to which agencies, who's working for whom, what challenges or trends are affecting local businesses, and so on. The bottom line is that my client is far more "plugged in" - and she has used this knowledge to consistently outperform the competition!"

• "Your competitive intelligence will serve as a differentiator during interviews."

So, what does all of this mean for you? It implies that you should begin "researching your way to success." Read industry websites and publications, trade magazines, your local Business Journal, the business section of your daily newspaper, BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, and so on. Other local, regional, and national sources of "business intelligence" to consider include association newsletters, podcasts, and radio/TV programs. Follow all relevant information on social media in your field, and set up "alerts" in your web browsers.

Begin to "connect the dots" by communicating your expertise, ideas, and value in terms that are relevant to the current business landscape. Connect with people, businesses, and organizations you've read about.

Your "competitive intelligence" will serve as a differentiator during the interviewing stage of your job search. Being "on the pulse" of your industry and local business market will also make you more appealing to prospective employers and recruiters.

• "The more you understand about the competition, the more powerful you will be."

The more you can move and shake with the movers and shakers, the better. If you can't, you should at least know what they're thinking, what concerns them, and what opportunities they see ahead.

The more you know about your competitors-both companies and individuals-the more powerful you will be in your job search and throughout your career!