The beginning of this new year — after a very difficult 2009 for job seekers — offers a good opportunity to review and fine-tune every element of an employment search, from resumes to thank you notes.

While you may be doing almost everything right, neglecting or mishandling just one or two pieces of the process could keep you from getting a job, especially in this ultracompetitive market.

Here, then, is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job search chain

The résumé: When was the last time you took a word-by-word, letter-by-letter look at your résumé? Make sure it's completely up to date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking. (After all, your situation might have changed since you started looking.) Now is also the time to create alternate versions, to reflect different types of positions.

Have someone else look at your resume. Alison Doyle, a job search specialist for About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Co., says that if you cannot afford a career coach, give your resume to friends or family members to scrutinize.

Little things count: You could have overlooked a typo or another error. This happens more than you might think, and “it can knock you right out of the running,” Doyle noted.

References: If you have not talked to your references lately, call them or send email. Make sure they are still in the same jobs, and tell them you’re still looking.

Cover letters: Maybe you’ve set up a few basic templates in advance, but that’s not enough. Each cover letter you write should be geared specifically to the job for which you are applying.

Online presence: Check and update your LinkedIn profile and make sure that it’s consistent with the information in your résumé and any other online presence you have, Doyle said.

Networking: Do not isolate yourself for days on end. Network through email messages, phone calls, coffee, lunch, appointments and meetings.

Applying: A glance at huge online job sites isn’t usually the best way to find jobs. You are more likely to succeed through people you know or meet through networking, or through professional or alumni associations.

The follow-up: These days, it is common to apply for a job and never hear back from the company. Without being a pest, take the initiative by following up with a phone call a week or so after you apply. If no name is listed on the job posting, use research skills to find one. Or, if you know someone at the company, check whether that person will put in a word for you.

Interviews: If you are getting plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers, take a ruthless look at your interviewing skills. This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off, Doyle said. But if you cant afford one, try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock interviews.