Judi Lansky, of Lansky Career Consultants based in Chicago, discuss three critical mistakes in the job search process that should be avoided.
Mistake #1: Not Knowing What You’re Looking For
If you can’t clearly tell a networking contact or an employer what kind of information or job you’re looking for, they’re not going to be able to help you.
Furthermore, they’re not likely to be impressed with you or motivated to help you. Before you meet with someone, you need to be very clear about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for. That might sound daunting, but it’s really not. You might use a set of exercises like What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles or Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. The exercises will be especially useful if you have a friend, a career counselor or a job search group where you can discuss what you discovered about yourself.
Mistake#2: Trying to Do Your Job Search Without a Network of Contacts
The proliferation of computers has tempted many jobseekers to sit safely in their homes and churn out job applications and resumes. They tell themselves they’re working hard at their job search and they may well be.
But they’re not working effectively.
People tend to hire people they know or people those people know. And you can know whomever you need to know. Start by making a list of people you know now (think family, friends, colleagues from previous positions, etc.). Those people will lead you to other people. Be sure to craft a well-written, spell-checked profile on LinkedIn® that describes who you are and what your skills are. Survey LinkedIn to connect with people you can add to your network. Make a list of questions you want to ask and start contacting people. Remember to ask them for additional leads (that’s how you build a network) and to send a thank you note.
Mistake#3: Presenting Yourself Poorly in an Interview
Everything you’ve done so far leads to the interview. To be sure you’re very well prepared, plan what you’ll wear to look appropriate for the position you want and research the company and the position carefully. (Do a search on Google and/or ask someone in your network who could be helpful with that).
Find a list of commonly asked questions in interviews (call our office to ask for one) and practice with a friend or career consultant. You don’t want your answers to sound rehearsed, but you want to speak fluently. and have cogent answers to each questions. Be sure to have some anecdotes about the problems you’ve solved and the results (quantified, if possible) you’ve produced.
If you clearly identify your skills and career direction, build a network of contacts and prepare carefully for interviews, you will be way ahead of most other job seekers. If you’d like coaching with any aspect of the job search, call us today for a no-cost strategy session.
