As a career coach, I've helped hundreds of job seekers take the pain out of the job hunt and find the career path that's best for them. While each individual's situation and goals are different, I've found five common mistakes to avoid for a more effective job search.
1. Relying on Online Strategies
Online job boards and networking groups have become the new landscape for job seekers and employers. However, this doesn't mean you should spend all your effort applying to jobs online. Submitting an online application is the one option you want to avoid.
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Many employers have adopted ATS's to spend less hands winnow through the hundreds of resumes they receive. Since job seekers tend to be unaware of robot-friendly keywords or formatting, most applications land up in the virtual trash. (That's why you've been acquiring those auto-generated rejection emails).
Try Making it More Personal
Instead of disbursal your time hit "send," research the individual behind the job posting. Look at your network for potential referrals. Even determination an email address attached to a human is a better option than the online route. The same goes for networking. Although networking has been "simplified" through online forums, individualal relationships and connections are still more effective. Don't neglect in-individual networking events.
2. Underestimating LinkedIn
While the online landscape has complex the application process, it has also served to benefit job seekers with the introduction of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the place to be because it offers a ton of benefits regardless of profession, level, goal or job search status (even non-job seekers need to have an optimized visibility). For job seekers, this is the largest gift database, which translates to: "the place 100% of recruiters and hiring managers attend find their next hire." For non-job seekers, LinkedIn is important because it allows you to be found for opportunities you to the worst degree expect. LinkedIn is also a great imagination for researching companies or career paths and managing your professional network. You don't need to join every social network but trust me - you do need to be optimized on LinkedIn.
3. Not Communicating Your Brand
Professional brand scheme is probably the number one area for improvement when job seekers in need, contact me. Many job seekers think of a resume, cover letter or LinkedIn visibility as a work account and tend to communicate a very standard, dull brand with every application. However, your application documents should be viewed as marketing materials used to paint yourself in the most desirable picture for your reader. The job market is competitive so taking time to cautiously customize the best content for each application is critical for standing call at the crowd.
Try Viewing Your Profile from the Hiring Manager's Perspective
Consider your resume valuable marketing real estate, only including that which is necessary and compelling for each application. Try adding a brief headline to instantly summarize what you do and always guide your reader to the info most attendant his/her inevitably.
4. Overlooking Job Descriptions
Creating a strong brand in many ways is driven by the hiring manager's inevitably as expressed in the job description. It's not enough to identify a job that's a perfect fit and assume the reader will also see your fit. You must tailor your brand to the job description and that means really understanding the need the company is trying to fill. Every job description is unique and every resume you send should follow suit. Identify keywords and skills inside the job description and mirror that language in your resume. Aim to communicate one content: "I am the solution to the problem you need solved."
5. Starting Too Late
Many people assume the job hunt is a quick process but the reality is, it can last upward of six months. Even if your job search is few years out, ne'er be afraid to test the market or throw your hat in the ring when an chance comes your way. The worst that can happen is an interested employer refuses to wait until you're ready to start. The top is you are able to test your brand against your target role, practice interviewing, take greater risk when negotiating with interested parties, and possibly land up in an even better chance.
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