Three Common Mistakes Job Seekers Make

In my career as a career coach and professional brander, I have worked with thousands of candidates at all different levels and stages of their job search. While each person comes with their own unique challenges, there are three common mistakes that I see candidates make that directly impact their success in the job search.

 

Mistake #1: Not Having a Clear Direction

Your direction impacts everything you do in your job search. Your messaging, your branding, your value. Without a clear direction of where you want to go, you will struggle. So often I meet with a client and they say that they are interested in marketing, sales, customer success, or maybe even product development. Now how are you going to properly fit all that in a resume and articulate your value? Simple. You are not.

What to do instead: If you have multiple interests (and are not just desperately trying to apply to anything and everything), take some time to rank your options. What are you interested in most? This is going to be your primary search. Then you can rank the others accordingly. You will need to build a separate resume for each and have a unique value proposition for each one.

 

Mistake #2: Not Being Clear on What Unique Value You Bring to The Table

Think of it this way. If you had 10 people lined up with similar experience, education, and skills, why are they going to choose you? If you simply rely on your experience/education, you're going to be just like everyone else. To stand out, you have to be able to articulate what you uniquely bring to the table to improve the organization.

What to do instead: Take some time to sit down and think about the direction in which you want to go. What is the biggest problem or need that job has (i.e., why are they hiring for this position)? Then think about how you are going to go about solving this problem or need in a unique or different way. Remember, don’t just rely on your experience. Think about how you approach the work and what you bring into it (awesome with customers, a killer problem solver, etc.).

 

Mistake #3: Relying Solely on Online Job Boards and Not Tapping into Your Network

Here is the problem with online job boards. You are going to be up against hundreds if not thousands of other applicants. Even if you are the most perfect, qualified candidate in the bunch, by cold-applying, your chances of getting seen are tiny.

What to do instead: Tap into your network. Start by seeing who you already know. Look at where they work and who they know. Even if they can’t help you directly, they might know someone that they can connect you to. Then, target the people in your ideal companies or industry. Build relationships so that you can gain information about the hiring process, connections to other individuals, and potential connections directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. Trust me when I say that this method works. I’ve seen so many of my clients win jobs because they found a connection with the company rather than cold-applying.

 

Avoiding these common mistakes can make a significant difference in your job search. By having a clear direction, articulating your unique value, and leveraging your network, you can position yourself as a standout candidate and increase your chances of landing the job you want. Job searching is not just about sending out resumes and hoping for the best; it’s about being strategic, intentional, and proactive in your approach. Take control of your job search, and you'll find that the opportunities you seek are within reach.

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