Six Bad Habits that are Severely Hindering Your Job Search
Looking for a new job opportunity can be enjoyable, but can sometimes be a tedious process that simply has to be done. The saying, “Finding a job is a full time job” certainly still rings true, but those who are not prepared to tackle the process strategically may experience unnecessary exhaustion. While we cannot control certain barriers (e.g. scarcity of jobs in your field, discrimination, and sometimes a bad market), we need to look our own personal challenges in the face and address habits that hinder our job search and ultimately, our ability to get a new job.
You can reverse bad habits, but first you have to recognize them and practice countering them on a daily basis. Below are 6 bad habits that will keep you anchored in exhaustion and leave you frustrated during the job search.
YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR JOB SEARCH MORE THAN YOU ACTUALLY SEARCH.
Have you ever heard a friend talk about the same failed job search “hope strategy” over and over? We have all heard people name drop about who they know and how that connection will help move them forward in the process of getting hired. Of course you don’t do this, but perhaps you know that person who has been looking for a position in an accounting firm, but they continue to dwell on how their ex-manager’s manager works for Pricewaterhouse Coopers and will get them in the door in a matter of time. Yet, you find them 8 weeks later still waiting. Do these kinds of connections actually happen? Of course! In fact, having a network of people you can reach out to when you begin a job search is golden for landing a position quickly. Unfortunately, in many cases, if a company is not moving at a pace that demonstrates their urgency for your skillset, then they are either not sold on what you have to offer, they’re not in a position to make a hire at the moment, or perhaps that ex manager’s manager is simply not touching the right person needed to move you (or your friend) forward in the process.
Develop a habit for continuously applying to positions across multiple companies until someone has made an offer to you. In the same token, you may want to get your ex manager’s permission to connect with their suggested contact directly, and follow that same process each time someone only helps you through the first step in making a connection. This method will bring in a lot more activity and you will hear the words “yes” and “no” a lot louder than the crickets you hear from stalling for lukewarm possibilities. In this case, no news in NOT good news.
YOU DON’T USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO EXPAND YOUR OPTIONS.
In this day and age, a person who does not understand the value of online communication will hurt themselves in the job search and those who are well connected have a competitive edge. The job market has definitely gotten better over the past few years and some companies are scraping to get the right people in place to solve their problems. However, not even a good job market can make up for bad communication, a bland package, and lack of visibility.
Recruiters have been utilizing social media to gain a well- rounded perspective about the candidates they are interested in for more than a decade. If you are not present, you cannot be seen. When you have not yet gotten the opportunity to interview, a part of what would make you attractive as a candidate is being able to keep up with the demands of the time, including having a solid LinkedIn profile. In the job market, those who do not utilize social media or have some kind of a professional online presence are severely hurting their chances.
YOU APPLY TO POSITIONS WITHOUT DOING YOUR RESEARCH.
Have you ever been applying for positions for months at a time and never had a single response back? Have you felt like you matched perfectly for a position or followed up to check on your application, but have not received a response? Or, perhaps you have actually spoken to the hiring manager on the phone, but they never called you back for an interview. It is frustrating to feel like you just don’t know what employers are looking for! Actually…it’s quite possible that you don’t. The job market is so dynamic, and sometimes employers are looking for characteristics that extend beyond what a “traditional” person in a particular job title would do. This is frustrating because it seems like there is no way around it—but there are several ways.
First, if you are applying for a position at a company, reach out to non-biased contacts via LinkedIn to conduct informational interviews. A great example of non-biased contacts are people who work for the company that you are pursuing, but may work for a different location, manager, or even a different department. You can contact them directly by email or through LinkedIn to express your interest in working for the company, and to get their opinion on the job you want to pursue, leadership, the company, and the characteristics that are sought to be successful in the role. The second person that I suggest reaching out to is someone who has previously worked in a role that you are interested in. This person will likely be able to give you insight into the history of the position and uncover changes that have occurred with the role and possibly management of the role. Person number three is someone in a leadership position in your field, either for a company you are applying to or a different company. You go to this person to get expert advice about the approach that you are taking to get to where you want to be (you can ask about other stuff too). The reason that you are not being contacted by employers could be that they use a different method for hiring for the position that you are interested in (perhaps they get the majority of their staff through a recruiting firm that they partner with). Reaching out to all of these individuals will give you more insight into the job you’re applying for, the market, and an opportunity to add networking contacts to your list.
YOUR RESUME IS BLAND.
Having a traditional resume without a focus and a story behind it is not effective if you want to stand out from the large number of applicants that employers get when they post an opening. If your resume is one that simply lists duties and responsibilities, then getting hiring managers to move forward with interviewing you will be difficult. If a hiring manager wanted to know what your duties and responsibilities were, they can probably find the job description for your position online and move on. Stay away from trying to incorporate every possible skill that you believe a company can use, as this will make your resume read like a script. Instead, you want this document to be a true representation of who you are as a professional, what you do best, and the possible impact you can make in an organization.
Your resume should ooze of your professional identity and your brand. When employers read your resume, what kind of professional do you want them to imagine? What can you bring to their workplace outside of basic training? How can you help solve a problem they may have? Remember, the purpose of the resume is to get an interview, not the job. Your resume should clearly display the value that you can add and how you may exercise your skillset through the position that they have open.
YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE.
Like the saying goes, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Your perception creates your reality. If you think there are no companies that will hire you, those are the results you will get. If you believe you will never get a job, then you will look up a year from now and be in the same position. The truth is, all of the activity that you build around your job search is what will get you hired. If you understand the uniqueness that you have to offer, then you should share it by connecting with those who can help you propel in finding the positions that are right for you and applying for them. Doing your research and checking your emotions is key in keeping your confidence during the job search. So, the next time you are feeling negative or discouraged, think about the very reason you are experiencing bad vibes, research your problem and solutions for it, address it, an remove it from your mental space!
YOU’RE NOT ORGANIZED.
When you are in the job search process, you should be keeping track of how your puzzle pieces fall together in your favor. To do this, you need to utilize a system to keep up with things, so that when an employer calls you, you don’t have to try and remember what position they are referring to or how long ago you applied. Similarly, when you meet new people, how are you keeping up with their information so that you can follow up with them and remain top of mind in the event that they become aware of an opportunity suitable for you? Organization and keeping your overall goal at the forefront is key. In addition to tracking people and jobs, you should be keeping track of your application to interview ratios and examine the kinds of positions that you have been contacted to interview for versus not. If you are being targeted for sales jobs, but you want to be a meteorologist, you may consider the possibility that your resume is representing a sales oriented individual, not someone who is interested in science. Ensuring that your materials are ready and related to what the employer is looking for is key.
Being in the job market can be frustrating when you don’t have a toolbox to help you address challenges you encounter. We have all at some point fallen short on one of the above mentioned points, and just about everyone who meets success has received help at some point in building their strategy. If you need help, find a mentor to keep you focused and consistent during the process. Keep moving, do your research, stay motivated, and get yourself a LinkedIn page so that you don’t struggle on your way to landing your new position.
