Avoid These 10 Mistakes in Your Job Search!

Even though the job market has eased-up a bit, especially in high-tech and consumer web areas, it is still a tough market. One reason is that when the job market eases up, those working, who had previously hunkered down as a result of the tough economy to make their move to another job decide to take risk and to make their move. It is well known that nearly 80% of those working are unhappy to some degree in their jobs and about 30% are unhappy enough to make a move to another company. These numbers overwhelm any unemployment rates that we are used to seeing since the Great Depression, so as a result, an easing job market does not always bode well for those out of work and looking! Studies have shown that those out of work and looking are at a disadvantage over those who are working, for a variety of reasons.

So, regardless of your current status what are some of the mistakes to avoid in conducting a productive job search? Here is a list that I have compiled directly from my experience working with clients during the past year. Not all clients sought my advice from the get-go; many experiences came out of their frustration from being out of work too long, or for getting stuck in a particular stage of the hiring process—many interviews but no offer!

1. A Generalized Résumé: Many take the easy way out by creating a generalized message for various job categories that they can pursue. Each category of jobs must have a unique résumé that showcases your value in the strongest way you can articulate. Do not insert factitious words in the Keywords section of your résumé just to get past the screening. It is best to have the Keywords as a part of your narrative throughout your résumé. Also, use variants of the same words to get through this screening process: Project Management, Program Management, and Project Lead, as an example.
2. A Mundane Cover Letter: I strongly recommend writing a cover letter when applying for an “A” job or company. The most common mistake applicants make is to repeat what is in their résumé and the job description to make it easier to submit the cover letter. A cover letter must show some deep and studied insights about the job, the company, and the challenge it faces in today’s environment. This takes time and is not always easy.
3. A Shotgun Campaign: This is where you respond to any job that remotely corresponds to what you do with a generic résumé, hoping someone will call you. Your campaign must be well designed with a clear understanding of who the “A,” “B,” and “C” targets are.
4. Not Following-up: If you are responding to an “A” target with a great message (résumé and cover letter) find ways to get your message in front of the hiring manager through some clever means. Find a friend or someone (do they get a referral bonus?) who can do that for you and then get the hiring manager’s name to call for a follow-up. I have written extensively in my blogs (and YouTube postings) about how to follow-up without coming across as a stalker. Use these methods.
5. Unprepared Interviews: Most go through these interviews only occasionally in their careers. So, do not assume that you can finesse them without good practice and some coaching. Find someone to video record you doing an interview and catch your own mistakes as you watch yourself on the screen.
6. Acting Anxious/Desperate: Being out of work is difficult, so any chance to face an interview is a tempting opportunity to hurry-up the process and to get to the offer stage. Ease-up and show your confidence in how you come across. It is quite easy to sense the anxiety and desperation even though you may do your best to stifle it. Certain degree of being nervous is normal, but do not let that translate into any other behavior that will not serve you!
7. Discussing Salary/Title Prematurely: If the interview train is gathering speed, do not rush to discuss salary or title until they are ready to do so. Here again, do not throw out a number to show them your confidence or value (as you see it). Once the interview screening is coming to an end the question of salary will come up. This also means that they are ready to move to an offer stage. Here it is best to first find out what role (title) you would be playing in the new job. Then asking about the range for that job is a good start. DO NOT ever lie about your current salary, but negotiate what you want in the new job, based on the value you create.
8. Not Sending Thank-you Notes: Sending these notes (email or otherwise) allows you an opportunity to clear up any misapprehension that may come out of the interview discussion. Also, very few people know how to write impactful notes, so if you can write a good thank-you note, it is one more arrow in your quiver!
9. Abandoning Your Campaign: This is the most detrimental step to concluding your campaign successfully. The best strategy is to organize your campaign so that you have three-four targets where you are interviewing during your final stages of the campaign. With this approach you can easily parlay the advanced stage of one target into generating action with others. Without this strategy you are at the mercy of their timeline. I cannot tell you how many times clients abandoned all other efforts, once one target moved rapidly through the interview process and then nothing happened for a long time. This is where you can leverage the action you have on other fronts into where you want to get your job offer. Repeatedly calling the hiring manager/recruiter rapidly erodes your desirability as a candidate and makes you look that much more desperate.
10. Not Negotiating the Package: When you have managed your campaign well, you should have action on multiple fronts and several offers in a short window. You must learn how to negotiate to get what you want regardless of the economy. It never hurts to ask if there is any room for negotiation. Not doing so will compromise your own value in the minds of your prospect employer.

It is not easy being out and looking for a job in any job market. Even if you have a job and are looking for a better opportunity the suggestions above apply equally!

Good luck!