Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: The Top 12 Job Search Mistakes

  1. #1

    Exclamation The Top 12 Job Search Mistakes

    The Top 12 Job Search Mistakes (taken from jobseekerweekly)

    1. Sending a resume that doesn't set you apart from your competition. Since employers and recruiters read hundreds of resumes a week, you'll catch their attention quicker with a resume that differentiates you from your competition. The best resumes target one career objective which is supported by quantifiable accomplishments relating to corporate bottom-line results. Peppering your resume with relevant accomplishments that emphasize benefits over features helps the employer see your potential value to their organization. Send an accomplishment-driven resume and keep your calendar clear for the interviews that you'll generate.

    2. Sending "cookie-cutter" cover letters. Any reader can spot a mass-produced letter. It has as much effect as junk mail - ending up in the "round file." Since your cover letter is most often your first contact with potential employers, it pays to make the most of the opportunity. Effective cover letters are customized and focused on the employer's buying motives. When responding to a job posting, send a cover letter that matches point by point the requirements and qualifications of the job posting. Don't forget that you'll need different cover letters for different job-search strategies. A letter you send to a headhunter or recruiter will have a different tone and message than the letter you send to a job posting. Letters you send your networking contacts should feel personal - or risk offending the reader. A good cover letter strategy is to create a template for each type of letter you send. Templates reduce the time it takes to customize each letter you send.

    3. Lack of job-search strategy. No plan! Your job search is a sales and marketing campaign. As any marketing guru knows, you get better, faster results with a strategic plan that relies on several marketing channels to deliver your message. A business may use print ads, radio time and telemarketing to increase sales. An effective job search includes responding to ads, resume distribution to headhunters, networking and target-market resume distribution. If your action plan involves all four strategies you'll find your dream job quicker and more efficiently.

    4. Spending all your job-search energy and time answering want ads and job postings. Too often job seekers rely on job postings and want ads as the primary source of job leads. Want ads and postings represent only a fraction of job openings available. Since these leads are public knowledge competition is at the highest level. An effective job search campaign also includes uncovering job leads in the hidden job market.

    5. Replying to want ads and job postings ineffectively. In an employers' market (too many job seekers for positions available) it makes sense to apply only to openings that you qualify at least 80%. For these job leads, spend the effort and time to prepare a targeted cover letter. You'll get much higher results sending 10 customized, point-by-point cover letters and resumes than if you respond to 100 ads that you qualify only minimally. Pack your cover letters and resume with key words found in the job postings and, more often, you'll end up on the top of the candidate pile.

    6. Little or no networking efforts. Not enough proactive efforts. The hidden job market comprises a big percentage of job leads. These positions are uncovered through networking and other proactive efforts. Networking is simply getting your message out to others that you are interested in learning about new career opportunities. This could mean contacting former colleagues, family members, affiliation or alumni members. The easiest way to get in front of potential employers is on the recommendation of others.

    Networking requires leaving one's comfort zone to meet new people. Not everyone is gregarious and self confident. What I've learned from my own networking efforts is that it becomes more natural over time. Once a person begins to reap the rewards of networking, the pain of the process is soon forgotten.

    7. Putting all your eggs in one basket. Job seekers anticipating an offer often stop additional search efforts. They experience disappointment when the offer doesn't come through or the offer fails through poor negotiation. Strategically, this is a bad idea for several reasons. One, it leads to a feeling of "starting over from scratch" which leads to negative and draining emotions. Second, precious time and opportunities are lost. Third, if a second offer is in the works when the anticipated offer materializes, the job seeker is in a much better bargaining position than if he has no other offers to consider.

    8. Lack of interview preparation. Job seekers get better interview results if they think of it as a sales call. Every great sales presentation starts with pre-sales preparation which includes client research, and product analysis. Job seekers prepare for interviews similarly: research on the prospective employer and a thorough catalog of their own accomplishments to illustrate their potential contribution and value to the employer.

    Thanks to the internet, company research is relatively easy. Once you've done the research, prepare to communicate your value through your accomplishments. Examine your career for examples of how you have solved problems, saved money, increased revenue, or created revenue opportunities for your former employers. As much as possible, dollarize or quantify your contributions. Do not depend on your ability to "wing it" through your interviews. Interviewing takes preparation and practice.

    9. Conducting a 24X7 job search. One would never consider accepting a position of employment that required 24-hour, seven days a week attendance. That's an impossible task. Yet many job seekers find it difficult to allow themselves "time off" from thinking about or working on their job search.

    To get the best productivity out your job-search activities, try to separate your free time from the time you spend on your job search. Think of your job search as if you were running a business. Think of it as MySelf Marketing, Inc. You are the CEO and you get to make up the rules. You can decide how many hours per day, or day's per week you're going to put in. This may be the only time you get to be the boss, so take advantage of it.

    10. Ineffective headhunter strategy. Headhunters can be a fantastic source of job leads and inside information. To get the most out of potential headhunter relationships there are two rules to follow. First, contact headhunters who specialize in your industry or job function. Most every recruiter or headhunter has a recruiting niche. The second rule, contact as many recruiters as you can who fit your industry or function. The more qualified recruiters you contact, the better your chances of one of them calling you with just the position you're looking for.
    Online resume distribution services often provide a shortcut to qualified headhunters and recruiters. They allow you to target headhunters by geography, industry, job function etc. Other resume distribution services will post your resume to all the top career sites and save you hours and hours of data entry.

    11. Lack of a back-up plan or plan "B" career objective. Often I hear from frustrated job seekers who have been looking a year or more. Many very talented job seekers are in the same boat with you. One reason for an extended job search is not having a back up or plan "B" objective. In our current job market you will avoid months of stress by having a back-up or plan "B" career objective.

    If your situation points to the necessity of forming plan "B", here are a few pointers on deciding the next logical career move. 1) Consider applying the skills and knowledge you already have to use in a growing industry, occupation or location. 2) Look at your skills and knowledge non-work related interests or hobbies. Can you market those skills toward a new career? 3) Consider marketing your current skills in a consulting capacity. 4) Is there a stronger market for positions you've held in the past? 5) What skills are in high demand? What would it take for you to gain those skills?

    12. Lack of salary negotiation skills. Walking away from $$. Most job seekers understand not to be the first to bring up money or salary requirements. Most also know to avoid stating your price when asked "What starting salary are you looking for?" What most job seekers don't understand is that they must dollarize their worth to the employer long before they reach the bargaining table.

    Dollarizing your worth by illustrating bottom-line quantifiable accomplishments. A proven history of generating revenue, saving time and money while improving efficiency all contributes to improving net income. Put the effort into proving your worth and you'll gain bargaining power at salary negotiation time.

  2. #2
    Thank a lot dev shab for it. It may help us to remove our mistake in job searching.
    “Lead me, follow me or get out of my way”

  3. #3
    Email Verification Pending
    Login to view details.
    Thought invoking points...

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •