1. Define your personal priorities. What matters most to you at work? A chance to hone your inherent talents and/or develop new skills? A position with a Fortune 500 Company, working with the movers and shakers in your industry? How about a job offering four weeks paid vacation, great health insurance, and an onsite day care?

Defining your personal priorities is the first step to discovering what job situations will give you the most satisfaction in all areas of your life. Why is this important? Because, as most career experts will tell you, achieving a comfortable balance between work and your personal life is key to long-term professional success.

2. Decide exactly what you're looking for. Instead of just surfing the job listings on Monster.com or reading the want ads in the newspapers, write your own description of the job you're looking for. Keeping your lifestyle priorities in mind, make your description as detailed as possible. Do you want to work in the private sector or for the government or a non-profit group? Is working for an entrepreneurial shop more appealing than a position with a big corporation? Would you prefer to work alone or on a team? What do you think you'd enjoy doing most? Don't forget to include the work hours, salary, and benefits you'd like plus any special perks that are particularly attractive to you such as an onsite gym. Writing all this down gives you a very specific target to aim at: the perfect job for you.

3. Determine where to find it. Now that you know what you want to do, the next step is to find out where you can do it. Start by making a list of all the companies in your target industry within a reasonable commute from your home. Research these companies in detail on the internet to determine whether or not they fit your personal priorities. Keep in mind that the more companies that are on your list, the better your chances of finding the job you really want.

4. Develop the best tools to hit your target. Drawing upon the information you've gathered about these businesses, send letters and resumes to the appropriate department managers asking for an interview to talk about why you would be a good fit for their organization. Call them a week later to set up an appointment. If you've done your research correctly, your skills and experience should be as attractive to the companies you contact as employment with them is to you. Even if the managers you talk to aren't in a position to hire you immediately, they should still be willing to consider you for future employment.

5. Discover how well this works now. Achieving any goal comes down to focusing on the path most likely to lead to success. Determining the position and employer that would be the best fit for you right from the start not only increases your chances of getting a job you really want, but also in succeeding at it after you're hired. Remember: taking a pro-active approach is what goal-setting - and career development - is all about.