Win an iPad with totaljobs.com

Competition for jobs in London is fierce, so The Independent has teamed up with totaljobs.com to give you the edge - and the chance to win an iPad!

This time of year is traditionally a hive of activity in the recruitment world. Candidates are looking for new, more satisfying jobs, and employers are now back on the hunt for new talent. However, while there are still plenty of positions out there, competition for jobs in London is fiercer than ever.

If you’re considering a new role, or even a career change, the key to getting the job you want lies in being prepared, whether you’re looking for IT jobs or a part time job. Interviews can be daunting at the best of times and the only way to ensure that you’re feeling relaxed and confident is to have done your homework. Surveys show that it takes most recruiters just ten minutes to make up their minds about a candidate. A quarter of them make a judgement within just five minutes.

Knowing current trends and news from your chosen industry will impress the toughest of interviewers. Using tools like LinkedIn to check out the people with whom you are meeting may lead to you discover common connections, giving you a head start over the competition.

Everyone knows someone who’ll claim that getting a good job is just a matter of luck, of being in the right place at the right time. Those who get their dream jobs on the other-hand know that it’s not about luck at all. It’s all about having the right information and getting good advice.

Our friends at totaljobs.com - a leading UK job site - agree, and are offering one lucky winner a brand new iPad – the ultimate interview preparation device.

It’s really easy to enter. All you need to do is a quick Google search to find the answer to a simple question on how many jobs in London are currently available on totaljobs.com.

Totaljobs.com gives you access to a treasure trove of useful tools such as CV templates, company information, and pages of hints and interview tips that will allow you to shine. Using these resources allows you to perfect your CV, build your industry knowledge and gives you the insight you need to ace your interviews. With over 80,000 UK positions at any one time, from jobs in IT to civil service jobs, totaljobs.com allows you to search through the best from local employers and recruiters.

So give it a shot, enter the competition and you may find yourself with an iPad to help you get your ideal job… and remember it’s not luck, its totaljobs.com.

This competition closes at midnight on 17 April 2011.

To read the Independent's terms and conditions, click here.