Monday, January 5, 2009

ARE THESE JOB SEARCH BLUNDERS KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR NEXT JOB?


Many job seekers unwittingly commit fatal errors when undertaking a job search, and because they don’t know what they are doing wrong, they keep making the same mistakes.

Here are some of the most common ones:

Mistake #1. Spending all of your time searching major job boards. What is the mistake here? After all, this is the age of the Internet. Isn’t searching online the best way to find a job? As it turns out, most jobs are not actually filled through job boards. It still comes down to who you know. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately 80% of all jobs are filled through networking. And an article in the Monterey Herald estimates that only 5% of jobs are advertised online and in print. The Bureau of Labor Statistics advises job seekers to use many different job search methods because job hunters find jobs faster using several job search methods as opposed to just one or two.

Mistake #2. Writing an ineffective resume that only lists duties. Many job seekers use position descriptions from their current and previous jobs as the basis for their resumes. The result is a very flat and unimpressive resume that sounds exactly like a position description from HR. In order to make your resume compelling, you as the job seeker need to highlight accomplishments that show the contributions you made to the organizations that you worked for. That is one effective way of distinguishing yourself from the competition.

Mistake #3. Remaining anonymous. As a job seeker you not only need to actively seek new employment, but you also need to position yourself to potentially be found by recruiters who are looking for your skill set. Make sure to put a well-written profile on social networking sites like LinkedIn. According to About.com, approximately 130,000 recruiters are on LinkedIn. If recruiters are on LinkedIn looking for candidates, shouldn’t you be on LinkedIn as a potential candidate?

Mistake #4. Not googling yourself to determine if there is anything on the web that could be damaging to your job search. Many employers now routinely search the Internet to find negative information about job candidates. You need to know what they will see when search for your name. Make sure to remove any potentially embarrassing photos. Also, check www.zoominfo.com ensure that whatever information is there about you is accurate.

Mistake #5. Not preparing appropriately for the interview. Have you practiced your answers to difficult questions? Do you know what employers are looking for in potential candidates? Do you have questions ready to ask the interviewer? If your answer to these questions is no, then you are not prepared for your next interview.

Avoid these mistakes and start your job search in the new year on the right note.