A: The low unemployment rate has increased competition for the best candidates. Growing companies are actively hiring new talent, and as a result of this increased competition for qualified staff, starting salaries at all levels have seen significant increases. But these factors don't mean that it will be "easier" for you to get a job. In fact, hiring mistakes can be more costly for companies, so they are paying even greater attention to their employment processes.

Many firms are going to great lengths to ensure that new recruits not only have the desired skills and competencies, but also have personalities that will fit in well with their organization. This could mean several interviews with people from various departments before you're selected for the position.

While you may not land your dream job on a first interview, you will find that you have an increasing number of employment options in today's market. These include not only full-time positions but temporary and project work as well. Job sharing and telecommuting are also adding to the variety of job options available. While opportunities abound in the tight labor market, you should still be prepared to go through an extensive interviewing process.