Do you commit any of these errors in your job search? You probably make at least one or two, if not more! The second of this five-part series will go through some of the most typical errors job seekers make and offer advice on how to avoid them.
- Considering other people’s perspectives. “You must do this,” “Never do that,” and “My cousin’s best friend got a job by standing out in front of the company wearing a sandwich board” are all examples of commandments. Everyone has an opinion on the best way to approach a job hunt. Some of it is unclear, and some of it is flat-out incorrect. Your chances of landing your dream job may be harmed if your friends and relatives give you bad advice on how the job search process works. Trust your intuition as well as the resume writer you hired. Remember that one person’s opinion is just that: one person’s opinion, and don’t believe everything you read online.
- Repeating the same action and hoping for different outcomes. “I applied for six jobs, but no one has gotten back to me.” So something isn’t functioning, then. Stop applying for employment that are advertised, start responding to the applications you have already sent, or find another strategy to land your dream job. The adage “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” is often used to describe insanity. Try something new if what you’re doing isn’t working.
- Ignoring what has worked for you in your job search. The antithesis of this is repeating the same action and expecting a different outcome. We want you to do a fantastic job once again this time around. So consider the strategies you used to get the job you sought the last time. At a professional association gathering, were you networking? Have you ever struck up a conversation with the individual sitting next to you at your child’s basketball game? Or did you submit an application through a business website? If something worked for you previously, think about doing more of it to see if it will work this time.
- Making a Request Using Conventional Methods. You come across a job listing for a position on Indeed.com that piques your attention. Click “Apply Now” do you? not before checking to see if the position is posted on the business’s website. Even though the application button leads to the same form, applying directly through the firm website is typically preferred over applying through a job search service. (In this manner, the company website rather than Indeed.com will be listed as the source of the application.) Don’t end your online application there. Check to see if you already have a connection to someone at the business. If you can find the hiring manager’s name, get in touch with him or her. By phone or email, get in touch with the hiring manager directly. Send a paper copy of your resume as a follow-up.
- Ignoring the fact that people employ people. It’s simple to become daunted by technology during a job search. How to make your resume compatible with ATS (meaning, helping it get through the Applicant Tracking System software that many large companies use). How to utilize LinkedIn to find a job. Never forget that in the end, people will hire people. Making the appropriate connections can mean the difference between getting hired and not even hearing back from a firm about your application.
