There are so many unknowns in a job search that it's not worth naming even some of them. Yes, be ware of pitfalls in your preparation, but make that your focus? NO WAY. There's a not so secret to success...focus on what you DO know. Some of the best job searches you'll ever have maybe be the ones that have unexpected good endings, well, actually beginnings, but I would argue that success comes from preparation and focus on your goal. The one thing that you can always be sure of is...drum roll....the things that you have accomplished. No one can take your education, volunteer experience and previous job experience away from you. Once you have it, you have it - that's a guarantee! And, even better, YOU get some say in how you present experiences to prospective employers. So the next time someone paints the doom and gloom of the bad job market and the bad economy, paint right over it with all that you have to offer.