Top 5 Job Search Mistakes

1. Limiting your job search to the Internet.

After all is said and done, it is people who hire people. In our current economic situation, you cannot afford to limit your efforts to any singular place. The newspaper still has a classified section and face-to-face networking allows you the opportunity to meet potential employers/clients.

2. Expecting someone else to do the work.

Okay, so you’ve signed up for every job site that you can find, signed with a recruiter, and registered at several temp agencies. You cannot expect that employers/clients will seek you out or that your recruiter will have you at the top of the list and neither will the temp agencies. You have to be 100% proactive each and everyday. Set a specific time each day to check the job sites, call your recruiter, and the temp agencies. Don’t forget to follow up on leads and send a thank you note after an interview.

3. Overlooking networking opportunities and not being prepared for them.

Wherever you go you, is a potential opportunity to network! Have you heard of the “elevator speech?” Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. You don’t have to be obnoxious or sound desperate. Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your résumé with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

4. Hitting the launch button on a massive scale.

Blindly sending out your résumé in hopes that someone, somewhere will see it and call you for an interview is to say least, illogical. Most job sites utilize ATS (applicant tracking software). Read here to find out how ATS works. The bottom line on this one is that your résumé will end up “pigeon holed.” Also, you cannot customize your résumé to a particular employer/client or job.

5. Sending the wrong message.

You’ve joined a networking site and made a profile. Congratulations! Your email address is hotbunny@xyz.com or migthymuscles@xyz.com, your bio reads that you’re a single parent, have a cat named Twinkie, you enjoy long walks on the beach… Try to remember that it is a professional networking site. Create an email account specifically for your job search and keep your personal information, personal!

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Staying Positive During Your Job Search

After months of unemployment it is natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. The important issue is not to remain in a mental state of negativity and although you may not have control over your employment situation, you do have power toward your emotional well-being.

While job seeking is an obvious part of your daily routine, incorporating time for other interests is vital. How many times, while you were employed, did you say, “I wish that I had time for…?” View this period of unemployment as an opportunity.

Volunteer! It is rewarding for you and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a fulltime job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in your community is multipurpose. You’re helping your community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

Learn a new skill or brush up on your current ones. There are free online courses available such as GFC Learn Free, as well as, low or no cost courses available through your local community college.

Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in your local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine. Don’t limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.

©2009-2010 – YP Mazzulo

360° View Job Search

Financial issues aren’t the only ones that go along with unemployment. Feelings of frustration, inadequacy, isolation and depression can also begin to emerge. You can head off some of these emotional issues by being self-aware and proactive. As with any stressful life issue, it’s paramount to make sure that we surround ourselves with family and friends. It is also helpful to seek out others experiencing the same issue. Groups, such as the ones found on LinkedIn, are a good place for those dealing with unemployment and job searching.
The Internet is an excellent avenue in which to set a professional presence. Investing time in a professional profile and seeking online contacts set the stage but those things alone will not get you employment. You need to approach your job search from several sides.

First, take a look at yourself. Make sure that the licenses and certifications that you have are up to date. Do you have any transferable skills? What was applicable in your previous employment may not currently be useful. If you are seeking to brush up on or learn new skills, check out GFC Learn Free. Getting a little insight about your personality is also useful. Take a mini personality test.

Gather information from multiple sources. The Internet is good but what about reading the business section of the newspaper or listening to business programs? Companies that are hiring utilize multiple outlets and so should you. The newspaper and business programs will feature companies that are doing well and industries that have new ideas and projects.

Be prepared at all times. Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. Wherever you go you, tell people that you are seeking employment opportunities. Don’t say, “I’m looking for work right now.” Give it a spin, “I’m looking for my next best opportunity.” Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your resume with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

Networking is essential to job seeking and one’s career. I have done this throughout my career and am fortunate to have some awesome contacts to call upon. Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in your local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine. Don’t limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.

Volunteer! It is so rewarding for both the volunteer and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a fulltime job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in your community is multipurpose. You’re helping your community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

Employers/Hiring Managers can receive hundreds of résumés for one position. This makes it difficult to get noticed. Get a little creative. Experiment with different styles of résumés and ways to deliver that résumé.

In a tough economy, no one can afford be passive about their job search. Our current job market is tight but not necessarily hopeless.

©2009 Cultivating Careers