3 Job Search Mistakes To Not Learn The Hard Way

A lot of emotions go into job search – and usually, they’re the negative emotions. You can start to feel desperate after submitting dozens or hundreds of resumes, only to be rejected. And it’s confounding that no one can seem to see that you’re perfect for a role, especially when you meet all the qualifications listed in the ad.

To minimize the negative emotions, let’s avoid 3 key job search mistakes so you can turn your job search journey into a series of wins, up to and including an offer for the job you ideally want.

Mistake #1: Keeping Your Options Open

This week a candidate told me, “So far I’ve been applying for about 8 or 10 different job titles, a variety of things, because I figure I can adapt to pretty much anything.”

Me: “And how long have you been in active job search mode?”

Her: “About 7 months now.”

It’s time for a better strategy. I realize it seems counter-intuitive, but “casting a wide net” and “keeping your options open” will only get you exactly where you are right now – nowhere.

Consider the prospective employer’s point of view: they have a position to fill. It has a job title. It has a specific set of duties. You’re being hired to do, literally, ONE job. With the jack-of-all-trades approach, the only thing you’re telling the employer is that you can do some of the job he wants done, and by the way you can touch on all these other things he didn’t even ask you to do. That’s not an attractive package from the employer’s perspective.

Here’s what to do instead: identify what you do excellently, and pursue that. That means other opportunities will pass you by. Get okay with that. Not every opportunity is for you. But the one that is for you is where you’ll excel.

Mistake #2: Replacing Tried & True Methods With The Internet

The Internet seems like a blessing: so many opportunities at your fingertips, so easy to apply, and as LinkedIn continues to evolve, so many ways to reach out and touch the real human being you need. But there can be a bit of a curse when the Internet comes into play as well – it can make you lazy, real quick.

The Internet doesn’t replace tried and true methods. It just augments them. You are unlikely to land your next 6-figure position 100% from the comfort of your bedroom, with your laptop open. It’s just like dating. You can have all the online profiles on all the sites that you want, but at some point, you literally need to get up and get out there.

Regard online searching as a fast track. You can network with an exponentially higher number of people online. But nothing rings truer than a nice phone call. Informational interviews still work. Showing your face means showing the real you, and differentiating yourself from the sea of competitors (who stay hiding behind their computers).

Mistake #3: Networking In A Way That’s Not Working

On a date, if all the other person does is say, “Me! Me! Me!” Then YOU…probably won’t be too terribly interested in seeing them again. When it comes to job search, you can’t approach a networking situation with your hand out immediately asking for something. Flip the script. In fact, discard your script. Networking works best when you actively listen, add value, then have that move reciprocated.

When the opportunity naturally arises for you to speak, make sure that what you say is specific. Stating, “So, if you know of any contacts…” doesn’t inspire anyone to do anything. People know a lot of contacts. But they can be more helpful to you – and they want to be helpful to you – you just have to zero in on specifically what you need.

An effective statement in a networking scenario is, “I’ve been in project management for 12 years, and right now I have my eye on US Foods, Kraft, and Tyson. If you or a contact of yours knows the Project Management Office Directors or VPs of Operations at any of those places, that would actually be most helpful to me.”

Specifics get results. A specific request when you’re networking tickles peoples’ memories and they will come up with names more often than not. Aiming for a specific role, as opposed to taking shots in the dark at 8-10 different titles, can land you in that role significantly faster.

There’s another specific approach to keep in mind. It’s mapped out in The Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet. Find out the exact language you need in order to instantly connect with a real human being who can move you through the interview process. This is the one strategy you need to pull your resume out of the online black hole, make sure it gets in front of someone’s eyeballs, and increase the likelihood that you’ll get a 70% response rate. Download The Ultimate Recruiter Response Cheat Sheet today.