Most people only look for a job when they need to, not when they want to. When was the last time you voluntarily chose to pound the pavement for your dream job? It’s about as much fun as having a root canal. Who wants to go through the contacting, networking, interviewing and screening only to be rejected?

To eliminate some of the stress of job hunting, follow these seven steps to ensure that your efforts are beneficial. Some require more work than mass resume mailings or registering at employment agencies, but if you view them as an integrated job-search program, you may find yourself fielding offers sooner than you think.

1. Assess your goals and likelihood for success. If you’re determined to pursue a new career, you must be realistic. You may have to start at the bottom or a level lower than you’re at now. There’s a great deal to think about before changing careers or assuming greater challenges.

Can you accept a lower level of pay or responsibility? Have you researched the types of jobs available in the field you wish to enter? If you want to move up the ladder, it’ll require hard work. Do you have the qualifications, experience and education? Do you possess the necessary drive and persistence? Have you talked to others in similar positions? Are you willing to work longer hours? Can you invest the time and expense for more education?

Consider all the possible scenarios. Write them down and assess how you’ll tackle each one. Then determine your likelihood for success and make any necessary modifications.

2. Discover your marketability. What skills do you possess that are in demand and how can they benefit an employer? Have you kept up with technology and changes in your field? Have you progressed in your career or have you been in the same position? If you’ve been passed up for promotion, why and how often? Have you honed your abilities and talents through education, professional development or training? Can you juggle multiple tasks?

If you think you could learn more, you probably can and should before branching out. A lateral move to a company that offers more opportunity may be a good idea.

3. Recognize your potential. If you’re unfulfilled or have "maxed out" at your current employer, you’re ready to face greater challenges. What haven’t you accomplished that you could elsewhere? What strengths does your employer appreciate but can’t use? What new trends could you contribute to and what companies are taking the lead on them? If you’re going nowhere and dislike the lack of opportunity more than your employer itself, decide where you can make a difference.

Barbara Korpeck, a resident of Rochester, N.Y., who had been a recruiter at a small firm, had reluctantly accepted that she had more to offer but no upward mobility at her employer. Hopping to a larger company and working her way up as a recruiter didn’t appeal to her. Her performance was outstanding and her clients recognized her efforts and exceptional service. "Once I realized I had potential, I reassessed my goals and opened myself up to new possibilities," says Ms. Korpeck. She demonstrated an effective combination of experience and renewed spirit. Her opportunity eventually came from a customer: she was offered and accepted a position at a large company.

4. Identify opportunities. Conduct research to target companies that need your skills. Keep up on local and national business news. When a company is downsizing, find out who is being released and why; for example, the elimination of a production crew doesn’t mean MIS professionals aren’t needed. Don’t assume a firm that’s reorganizing isn’t hiring. If you’re looking for a computer-operator position and certain companies need only a limited number, target those that require more. Investigate which companies hire subcontractors or freelancers and which prefer hiring through temporary agencies on a contract basis.

5. Locate jobs before they become available. Use the Yellow Pages, the local chamber of commerce and various professional organizations to gather leads. Research plays an important role. Request an informational interview, or ask to spend a day with someone who holds the position you desire to learn what the job entails. Smaller companies are excellent sources for this type of shadowing, as few have formal policies discouraging it.

Call a company and ask for the name of the hiring manager, then send a resume and a persuasive cover letter providing specific details of your past contributions. If you’re a marketing professional, join an organization and volunteer for its membership drive. You can gain new networking contacts and experience. Join your industry or function’s professional organization to make contacts and demonstrate a productive life outside the office.

Don’t wait for positions to be advertised; seek opportunities before your competition hears about them.

6. Consider relocation. If you’re not tied down by family obligations, moving should be an option. Some cities are growing more than others. If the company you’re targeting is outside your area, don’t discount it. While moving can be stressful, you shouldn’t let it hinder your search. It isn’t where you live that can make you feel successful, but the way you live.

7. Determine your success. Make sure your resume supports your qualifications and objective. Tailor each cover letter to the position and employer. Address it to an individual (not a department) and make it worth his or her time. After you’ve placed your resume in as many hands as possible, follow up on each letter by requesting an interview. The more you campaign for yourself, the more quickly you’ll reach your goals.

Roy Pitta, CEO and owner of Global Staffing Solutions in New York, believes in this aggressive approach to job searching. In addition to sending resumes, he stresses using other avenues. If you work with a recruiter, let him or her know what companies you’ve interviewed with to avoid a duplication of efforts and possible embarrassment.

We’ve all heard that looking for a job is a job, but to make it a worthwhile effort, you must do your homework. Blind or infrequent resume mailings won’t do. Without proper planning and preparation, the job-search process will drag on. Your disillusionment will show more with each passing day and in interviews particularly. If you approach your job search as you would a job, you’ll reap the rewards: a position you really want, rather than a job that pays the bills.

-- Ms. Little is president of PCR Services Unlimited, a resume and career development firm in Victor, N.Y.