How do I get the right job for me? Top tools for your job search

As a student, recent graduate or young professional changing jobs and moving to a new company is always daunting. Making the right decision and applying to the right job and right company for you is vital, after all, you spend most of your life at work so it better be something you enjoy.

There are plenty of job boards and recruitment consultants promoting their vacancies but how do you get underneath the job description and sales pitch to the real career information and insights you need to make an informed career decision?

To help, here is what we think are the top tools (in no order) that will boost your chances of making informed careers decisions:

1. Corporate Websites - while there is obviously a lot of marketing content here corporate careers websites continue to improve. This should be your first port of call to understand the company's culture, industry and operations. There are often very good case studies and tips about the recruitment process. You can access the orporate websites for all the companies on TheCareerMole via the Target Companies section when you login.

2. Vault.com - each company has a forum where past and present employees can sound off about their company. Some useful insights but take with a pinch of salt as some contributors clearly have a grudge to bear...

3. TheCareerMole.com - There is no substitute for talking to directly to real employees who have first-hand experience of the work that potentially interests you. Introduce yourself directly to employees, build relationships, ask all the questions that matter to you and then apply directly to the company, via the employee, once you have found the right job and company for you

4. Careers Advisory Services - lots of resources for current students and graduates to research companies and meet prospective employers during term time. See our list of CAS to find your university

5. Recruitment Consultants - most of us have a story about a cowboy recruiter but there are good ones out there who have first hand experience of their industry and can provide valuable career advice. Best way to find a good one is asking your network who they have used in the past that they were pleased with

6. Target Jobs - a good resource for information on graduate employers with active forums for Q&As

7. TimesOnline's Careeers In... - lots of articles about working in a particular industry

You should use all these tools to help understand which is the right company and job for you, before you apply. When you're ready to apply boost your chances by introducing yourself to real employees on TheCareerMole.com who can help you prepare and understand the company and application process before they refer your application to the recruitment process on your behalf.

Use the comments to let me know what your experience of these sites has been - what worked for you, and what should be added to the list?

Oliver