Job Searching...Easy Mistakes to Avoid

Beginning a job search is never easy. There are so many ways to search and so many different resources to use making it more convenient for searching employees, but this also opens up room for mistakes. There are a few simple rules to follow when searching for jobs and a few mistakes to avoid.

1. Use all of the Resources you Can
It is easy to go with one job searching technique and hope for the best. There are tons of resources available to searchers today, so use them! Gaining the most exposure and branding yourself professionally in as many ways possible gives you the best possible chance to land the perfect position for you. Don’t limit yourself to a few resources; use whatever is available to you. Internet sites, temporary agencies, Career Services Departments from your educational facilities, newspaper advertisements and networking are all excellent ways to search. Limiting yourself to just a few of these can drastically reduce your chances of finding the best position for you.

2. Focus on What you have to Offer…Not on what you Lack
We can always point out what we lack in any situation, especially when searching for a new career. Instead of focusing on negatives like not having enough experience, being over-qualified or struggling with finding a job, focus on positives. What can you offer the company you are interviewing for? Find out your greatest strengths and use them as a focal point when you begin talking with companies and sell yourself. Explaining that you ‘need a job’ is not the way to get on a hiring manager’s good side. As a matter of fact, it makes you look desperate and could raise concerns as to whether or not you were particularly interested in the job or if you would take anything at this point. Companies want a new employee who is interested in the position, skilled at what they do and can offer them the most benefits if they are hired. A good tip is to sit down and look at contributions you have made at previous places of employment or involvement from your education. Develop a list of your strengths and correlate them with the job responsibilities of the position in which you are interested. Look at this before your interview so you have a fresh wave of confidence and these strengths are in the top of your head to mention during the interview. Always remember…it is not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company.

3. Don’t Apply for ANY Job…Apply for Jobs that you WANT
You are going to come in contact with several positions in which you are interested. Some will consider you, some will not. Some will bring you in for an interview, some will bring you in for two interviews, and then they may choose someone else for the position. Do not let rejection put an obstacle in your job searching path. Focus on the types of jobs that you want and continue to look for positions using your skills, experience and educational background. If you begin looking for ‘anything’ as a career, your lack of interest will show in an interview and hiring managers don’t want a new employee who lacks motivation or interest in their job. Even if you did get lucky and land a position that you weren’t particularly interested in, chances are, you will quit the position and end up right back where you are now. Maintain focus and keep looking for the right fit for you. Hiring managers may choose someone else and that means you can re-evaluate your steps throughout the interview process and make improvements for next time. Learn the best way to sell yourself and use your knowledge as an advantage. The right job at the right company will come and you’ll be glad that you saved yourself for the right fit.

4. PROOFREAD
Look over your resume, your cover letter, your application, writing samples or anything else you have to turn into a Human Resources Department. A simple typo, grammar mistake or incorrect word usage is a clear sign to a potential employer that you are lacking an eye for detail. If you are not willing to take the appropriate time to make sure you are turning in perfect work to sell yourself for a position, a hiring manager will have question as to whether or not you will take the time to turn in perfect work for their company. Many managers immediately throw away resumes, cover letters or applications that come across their desk with errors. Take the time to double-check and triple-check items you are turning in for potential employment. Have someone else look it over to be sure and use your resources. If your school has a Career Services Department, have them review and assist you with documents. Many internet sites now offer the option to turn in your resume for review, too. Taking the time to make sure your information is correct and without error is a sure way to put yourself ahead of the other job searchers who may not have been as detail-oriented as you are.

5. Be Qualified…Not Over Confident or Entitled
You will undoubtedly come across several positions which you are more than qualified for. Use this to your advantage to point out how you can benefit the company if they choose to hire you. Show your strengths, your degree if you have one and your experience, but do not act as if you are entitled to have the position. There are thousands of job searchers just like you who have the same, if not more, qualifications that you do. Maintain your focus on what you can do for the company. Mention that you want to continue learning, you want to join organizations in your field to stay informed, you want to excel in the job responsibilities and that you want to build a career with the company…not just have a job with them. These types of points show a hiring manager that you know you are qualified for the position, but you want to do even more to make yourself an asset. They will appreciate this much more than an individual who comes in feeling entitled because they have a degree and experience. Show that you want to do more.

These are some easy steps to follow when searching for a new career. Following these can help you feel more confident and more knowledgeable about job searching and it can set you apart from other searchers in your field with similar qualifications. Remember…sell yourself and brand yourself professionally. Hiring managers won’t remember most of what you say…but they will remember how you say it, how you can benefit them and how you portray yourself in an interview.

JT