Common Job Search Pitfalls

It’s 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: “What am I doing Wrong?” If you want to flip your job search around, make sure you’re not falling prey to any of these common job search pitfalls:


1. Not Utilizing Your Existing Network
We say it all the time—the best way to get a job is by using your existing network. Relatives, friends, former colleagues, professors, neighbors, and friends of friends. Don’t just apply to jobs blindly online. It’s 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 you’re interviewing with are evaluating whether they’d 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 “go another direction.” A common pitfall is confusing a friendly conversation with a meaningful conversation. If you have a great rapport with the hiring manager, but you don’t use your time wisely, that conversation is a waste. You can’t 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 you’re a great fit for the job.

4. Under-dressing
We say it all the time—wear a suit. Unless you’re 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 you’re applying to jobs sporadically, you’ll 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 it’s following up after an interview by sending a thank-you note, or confirming someone received your application, transcripts, references, or assessments—following up is a MUST when you’re in the job market.