Are you unknowingly making some of these mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making several — if not more! Go through this checklist, mark which mistakes you’re making — and then learn how to get back on track.
Mistakes Checklist
[ ] Looking for a Job. Don’t just look for a job — look for a career. A calling. What are you meant to do? How can you use your skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? You may not see your prized position advertised in a job posting. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. What kinds of problems could you solve for a company? What kind of company needs your superpowers to help them shine?
[ ] Not Targeting Your Job Search. What kinds of jobs are you interested in? What kind of company do you want to work for? If your answer is, “I don’t care, I just need a job,” your job search is less likely to be successful than if you spend some time thinking about where you want to work and what you want to do (and how to get there!).
[ ] Making It Hard to See How You’d Fit In. Generic resumes don’t attract employer attention. Instead, you need to show an employer how to add value to their company. It would be best if you customized your resumes. You can’t use the same resume to apply for vastly different jobs — for example, an elementary school teaching position and a job as a sales assistant. Figure out the critical components of the job, and then showcase relevant accomplishments and results in your resume.
[ ] Quitting Your Job While You Find a Better One. Maybe your mom gave you this advice: “Don’t quit your job until you have a new one.” Mom was onto something. It’s controversial, but hiring managers and recruiters confirm that finding a job is easier if you’re currently employed. Jobseekers who have jobs are more attractive candidates. Studies show that currently employed candidates are hired more than unemployed jobseekers … it’s especially tough if you have been out of work for quite some time.
[ ] Confusing Activity with Action. Are you confusing “busywork” with progress? Are you spending a lot of time researching jobs online and applying for lots of positions? While it’s recommended that you spend at least an hour a day on your job search if you are currently employed (and two to three times that if you are currently unemployed), make sure you track how much time you are spending and what you are spending it on. Spend your time on high-value tasks — like identifying and researching companies you’d like to work for, trying to connect directly with hiring managers and recruiters, and having coffee with someone who works for the company where you’re applying — and not just simply spending time in front of your computer.
[ ] Paying Attention to Other People’s Opinions. “You have to do this,” “Never do that,” “My cousin’s best friend got a job by standing out in front of the company wearing a sandwich board.” Everyone has an opinion about how to conduct a job search. Some of it isn't very clear. Other times, it’s just plain wrong. Your friends and family can be wrong about how the job search works, which might hurt your chances of getting your dream job. Trust your career coach and resume writer and trust your instincts. Don’t believe everything you read online and remember that one person’s opinion is just that — one person’s opinion.
[ ] Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results. “I applied for six jobs and haven’t heard anything back.” Well, then, something’s not working. Either stop applying for advertised positions, start following up on active applications, or figure out a different way to connect with your dream job. It’s been said that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If what you’re doing isn’t working, do something different!
[ ] Not Doing What Worked for You Before. This is the opposite of doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. This time, we want you to achieve the same result as before — a great job. So, look at what worked for you the last time you landed your dream job. Were you networking at a professional association meeting? Did you talk with the person next to you at your child’s basketball game? Or did you apply on a company’s website? Consider doing more of what worked for you last time and see if it works for you again.
[ ] Applying Through Traditional Channels. You see a job posted on Indeed.com for a job you’re interested in. Do you click “Apply Now”? Not without looking to see if the job is advertised on the company’s website. Applying on the company’s website is generally preferred to applying through a job search portal, even if the application button takes you to the same form. (That way, it will list the application's source as the company website, not Indeed.com.) After you apply online, don’t stop there. See if you are already connected with someone at the company. Reach out and see if you can find the hiring manager's name. Connect with the hiring manager directly by email or phone. Follow up by mailing a print copy of your resume.
[ ] Forgetting That People Hire People. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by technology in a job search. How do you make your resume ATS-friendly (so you can get through the Applicant Tracking System software many companies use)? How do you use LinkedIn in the job search? Don’t forget that ultimately, people hire people. Connecting to the right person at a company can make the difference between getting hired and not even getting a response to your application.
[ ] Getting Frustrated. The average time for a job search has steadily increased over the past few years. In a recent RiseSmart survey, 40 percent of hiring managers report conducting between 3-10 interviews before extending a job offer. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said their hiring process is three weeks or longer. So don’t be discouraged if it takes days … or weeks … to hear back after applying or interviewing.
[ ] Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket. “But this is my dream job!” While that may be true, you will have a better chance of getting a better job if you don’t rely on a single opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great to have two or three job offers to choose from? That’s only going to happen if you diversify your job search. Apply for multiple positions — even a few you think you wouldn’t necessarily accept. You never know — you might learn in the interview process that it really is your dream job — or the company might even create your dream job once they know what you have to offer.
[ ] Not Spending Enough Time Job Hunting. You’ve probably heard it said that looking for a job is a job in itself. That’s partially true. Some people will hear about an opportunity from a friend and get hired (sometimes without applying). But for most jobseekers, you’ll have to invest time in preparing your resume, applying for positions, following up, and more.
This blog post has shared what not to do during your job search. Stay tuned for more valuable ways you keep your job hunting on track in the Mistakes in Job Search Checklist, Part 2.
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