Start by looking at your credit score:

What kind of credit score do you have? If it’s low and less than 700, you may want to look at secured cards or cards that don’t really offer that much. The reward cards generally will ask for a higher credit score. If your score is under 600, I wouldn’t even bother with these.

Look at all the options: There are a lot of companies out there and some are doing great while others are doing poorly. See what kind of cards are out there in terms of what they have to offer for you, the fees they are going to charge, etc. I would take a few hours out of your day and research at least 10 credit card companies. Trust me, there are a lot of them out there and yes, even in a down economy, you’ll find that there are companies more than willing to lend.

These are just a few steps you can take when looking for a card that will approve you. Don’t become discouraged because there is a card out there for you. Look hard and it will come to you.