Do you commit any of these errors in your job search? You probably make at least one or two, if not more! This five-part series will go through some of the most typical errors job seekers make and offer advice on how to avoid them.
1. Job Searching. Oh, I guess I shouldn’t look for work? Instead of just looking for a job, consider a career. a beckoning What is expected of you? How can you best utilize your knowledge, training, and experience? That role might not be listed in a job advertisement. That does not imply that it is not there. What sorts of issues could you resolve for a business? What kind of business requires solutions to those issues? Look at possible solutions to that issue for that type of business.
2. Not focusing on a specific job. What types of jobs are you looking at? What kind of business are you interested in working for? Your job search is less likely to be successful if your response is, “I don’t care; I simply need a job,” rather than if you take the time to consider where you want to work, what you want to accomplish, and how to get there.
3. Making It Difficult for a Potential Employer to See How You Would Fit In Employers are not drawn to generic resumes. Instead, you should demonstrate to potential employers how you can benefit their business. Your tool needs to be modified for the task. You wouldn’t tighten a screw with a hammer, would you? For instance, you cannot apply for a job as a sales assistant and an elementary teaching position using the same resume. Determine the essential requirements of the position and then demonstrate in your resume how you can meet those requirements.
4. Resigning from your position rather than keeping it while you look for a better one. Perhaps your mother told you to wait to quit your job until you have a new one. Mom was right on the money. Although it’s debatable, hiring managers and recruiters agree that having a job already makes it easier to find another one. Candidates who already have a job are more appealing. Perhaps it’s because being unemployed can make you (seem) hopeless. But research after research demonstrates that employed candidates get hired more frequently than hopefuls who are not currently working. If you’ve been out of work for a while, it’s very difficult.
5. Mixing up activity and action. Are you equating “busywork” with advancement? Do you frequently seek jobs online and submit numerous applications? While it’s advised to dedicate at least an hour each day to your job hunt if you are employed (and two to three times that if you are not), make sure you are keeping track of your time usage and the activities you are engaging in. Instead of merely sitting in front of the computer, use your time on high-value activities like identifying and researching firms you’d like to work for, attempting to connect directly with hiring managers and recruiters and going out to coffee with someone who works there.
