My husband and I are huge dance fans. We grew up during the birth of hip-hop and both fancy ourselves 'dancers' - though our moves often make my teenage son cringe and ask us NEVER to do that in public. Okay, so you can't please everyone. We've been watching America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC) since the first season. Last night's show was fantastic. But, more importantly, it made me think of some very important lessons for job hunters in our current ultra-competitive job market. Here are five lessons job hunters can learn from America's Best Dance Crew:

Beat Freaks: I love this group. These women - at least one of them is a a mommy - are simply amazing. They're confident in their skills and abilities and completely unphased by the fact that all-girl groups are an underdog in this competition. They've got mad skillz; but more importantly, they've got fight and spirit. Beat Freaks never whines or complains. They never feel sorry for themselves or consider themselves anything less than a front runner - despite the hand dealt to them. They've been assigned tough tasks, difficult props, and the WHACKEST of whack tracks. It never matters. They continue to give one unforgettable performance after another, capped by THE BEST B-boy move I've ever seen. (So you won't miss it: pay attention to what Shorty does while she's spinning on her head for about two minutes at the end of the performance.) Lesson for job hunters: Don't wallow in self pity or commiserate about the hand you've been dealt. Be confident in your abilities. Consider yourself a constant work in progress and continue to hone your skills. Word hard to be your best. Above all, when you are presented with an opportunity - go for it with gusto.

Quest Crew: The group consistently turns in solid, fun routines. They know what makes them unique - a few members are skilled in martial arts. They incorporate those skills to create innovative routines. They are aware of their audience - both the judges and the crowd. Quest Crew works equally hard to impress both. Job hunter lesson: Show your enthusiasm. Know what makes you unique. Don't be afraid to show some personality. Make people remember you (in a good way, of course). Be innovative when it comes to your job search strategy. Don't rely on the status quo. Understand your audience and give them what they need. Tailor your resume and cover letter to a particular employer. Tailor your elevator speech to the person you are speaking with.

Strikers All-Stars: I've loved this crew from the beginning. Their performances have been strong, clean, precise. They've taken each challenge and met it and shown us that they were much more than steppers. But, as the season went on they seemed to relax a little bit. After several strong performances, this week they had to battle it out for the final spot on next week's show. Unfortunately, this performance wasn't spectacular. Nor was it flawless. The intro lacked interest and major mistakes were made at a critical point in the season. I consider them to be a better group overall than the crew they battled this week. But, this week they didn't "bring it." Consequently, their banner fell and they were sent packing. Job hunter lesson: Don't relax in your efforts, underestimate the competition, or give less than your best. Really "show up" at each and every job interview, networking meeting, temporary job, or volunteer opportunity. Practice for interviews. Recognize that there is always room for improvement.

Fly Khicks: This group is the dance team for the Miami Heat. I'll admit that I wrote this group off as skin-baring cheerleader types from the very beginning. Apparently, America agreed. For the past three weeks they've ended up in the bottom two, forced to battle it out for the final spot on the show. While I was initially biased against the group I had to respect the fact that each week these ladies rose to the challenge. They never gave up, despite the odds. Instead they came harder. They are innovative. This week they used their bodies to create turntables and a bicycle. Very clever. I now realize that I underestimated them. Job hunter lesson: Never. Give. Up. Accept the situation (the economy, the poor job market, etc.) Then work doubly hard to make your mark and stand out from your competitors. Realize that it's NEVER over. Fight until the end. Secondary note: don't show too much skin or dress inappropriately on an interview. It's distracting and can definitely work against you. ABDC 3-- Dynamic Edition, Week 4 Note: This is my favorite performance of DE, not the one that got them eliminated. Bonus lesson: Dynamic Edition (Eliminated last week): I was sad to see the group - cloggers from Alabama - go. They are a very strong group. But, unfortunately last week wasn't their best performance. They had the courage to enter what most would consider a hip-hop dance competition. They knew most of their audience wouldn't be familiar with their style of dance (personally, I LOVE clogging. Riverdance, anyone?), but they didn't allow that to stop them. While they didn't win the competition, other opportunities will doubtless be open to them. Job hunter lesson: Don't limit yourself to the same field or industry. If you want to make a career transition; don't let anyone stop you. Learn everything you can about your new field and look for ways to transfer your skills to your target career. Once you've committed to the transition build your knowledge and skills. Work tirelessly to achieve your goal. Take the lessons that you learn in life and in your job search and use them to capitalize on your next opportunity! Roxanne Ravenel, Job Search Coach & Consultant www.TheJobLab.com