December 15, 2016
Itâs hard to navigate through the maze of job boards, online applications, elusive hiring managers, and interviews. Preparing for a smart, effective job search often means de-bunking job search myths and sharing practical, useful advice that gets results. The most popular question we receive is simple but the answer is complicated. The question is: âWhat am I doing Wrong?â If you want to flip your job search around, make sure youâre not falling prey to any of these common job search pitfalls:
1. Not Utilizing Your Existing Network
We say it all the timeâthe best way to get a job is by using your existing network. Relatives, friends, former colleagues, professors, neighbors, and friends of friends. Donât just apply to jobs blindly online. Itâs all about who you know! Let others make introductions and suggest connections for you.
2. Overconfidence
You should be confident, but there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Speak confidently about your strengths and experiences, but remember to be humble. The people youâre interviewing with are evaluating whether theyâd like to work with you. Make that an easy decision for them!
3. Mistaking a Great Conversation for a Successful Conversation
We often hear stories from people who think they had a great interview, but then failed to get a call back, or received a note saying the company decided to âgo another direction.â A common pitfall is confusing a friendly conversation with a meaningful conversation. If you have a great rapport with the hiring manager, but you donât use your time wisely, that conversation is a waste. You canât talk heavily about unrelated topics like sports, mutual acquaintances, or current events. If the hiring manager engages you in unrelated chatter, comment quickly but steer the conversation back to your resume and to why youâre a great fit for the job.
4. Under-dressing
We say it all the timeâwear a suit. Unless youâre specifically told not to, you always want to dress to impress on a job interview. If you're an entry level candidate, remember that a career-oriented job interview is NOT the same as a job interview you went on for part-time jobs in college. You need to up your game.
5. Consistency
If youâre applying to jobs sporadically, youâll get occasional results. A successful job search requires consistent work. If you can, devote designated time each day to scouting leads, sending out feeler notes, putting in applications, and working the contacts in your existing network.
6. Follow-Up
Employers are looking for a high sense of urgency. Whether itâs following up after an interview by sending a thank-you note, or confirming someone received your application, transcripts, references, or assessmentsâfollowing up is a MUST when youâre in the job market.
1. Not Utilizing Your Existing Network
We say it all the timeâthe best way to get a job is by using your existing network. Relatives, friends, former colleagues, professors, neighbors, and friends of friends. Donât just apply to jobs blindly online. Itâs all about who you know! Let others make introductions and suggest connections for you.
2. Overconfidence
You should be confident, but there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Speak confidently about your strengths and experiences, but remember to be humble. The people youâre interviewing with are evaluating whether theyâd like to work with you. Make that an easy decision for them!
3. Mistaking a Great Conversation for a Successful Conversation
We often hear stories from people who think they had a great interview, but then failed to get a call back, or received a note saying the company decided to âgo another direction.â A common pitfall is confusing a friendly conversation with a meaningful conversation. If you have a great rapport with the hiring manager, but you donât use your time wisely, that conversation is a waste. You canât talk heavily about unrelated topics like sports, mutual acquaintances, or current events. If the hiring manager engages you in unrelated chatter, comment quickly but steer the conversation back to your resume and to why youâre a great fit for the job.
4. Under-dressing
We say it all the timeâwear a suit. Unless youâre specifically told not to, you always want to dress to impress on a job interview. If you're an entry level candidate, remember that a career-oriented job interview is NOT the same as a job interview you went on for part-time jobs in college. You need to up your game.
5. Consistency
If youâre applying to jobs sporadically, youâll get occasional results. A successful job search requires consistent work. If you can, devote designated time each day to scouting leads, sending out feeler notes, putting in applications, and working the contacts in your existing network.
6. Follow-Up
Employers are looking for a high sense of urgency. Whether itâs following up after an interview by sending a thank-you note, or confirming someone received your application, transcripts, references, or assessmentsâfollowing up is a MUST when youâre in the job market.
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