The Ten Most Common Job Search Mistakes

Changing jobs can be a scary proposition. While the economy has improved since 2008 to 2010, people often still assume that sticking with an unfulfilling job is better than risking a search for a new one. And even if you’ve definitely decided that you are going to change jobs (or career paths) or you are currently out of work, there are some common job search mistakes that people make as they look for a new job.

Contrary to the bleak picture that the news media create, or that we often create for ourselves, there are jobs that need to be filled with good-quality employees like you. Even if you’ve found yourself not doing well at one organization, each organization has a different culture, and you will fit differently within different cultures. By carefully screening opportunities as you go through your job search, you can land a position in a work culture that’s a perfect fit for you.

In the process of working with many people looking to make a job change, I have noticed some common patterns that cause people to get stuck and make mistakes that keep them from finding the fulfilling work they are seeking. I’ve distilled these down to a list of the 10 most common job search mistakes.

The Ten Most Common Job Search Mistakes

1. Sending out Resumes Only in Response to Job Postings

Although it is not a bad thing to do, simply sending out resumes in response to job postings is not likely to yield the quick results that tapping into your own personal and social network can produce. When you send out your resume blindly, you often end up competing with hundreds—if not thousands—of potential candidates, making it more difficult for you and your resume to rise to the top of the pile. Are you aware that as many as 85% of all open positions are filled through referrals?(1) If you are only responding to job postings, you are missing a huge opportunity. It is fine to send out resumes—just don’t rely on it as the only means of finding a job.

2. Not Believing It’s Possible to Get a New Job

Over and over, I hear people say some version of “There’s no way I can find a new job.” People offer many excuses and reasons for this counterproductive belief, including the following:

• The economy is bad.

• I don’t have the right skills for the jobs that are out there.

• I don’t have time to look while I’m working.

• I’m worried that my employer will find out I’m looking.

• I’m too old.

• I’ve sent out resumes and I never hear back from anyone, so why bother?

If any of these statements sound like you, it’s time to examine your belief system to see what might be keeping you from a more positive outlook on your job search. If you keep having negative thoughts, I promise you that you will keep having negative results.

3. Not Clearly Defining the Work You Want to Do and Are Best Suited to Do

The most common statement I hear from people is that they can’t figure out what they want to do. I understand it can be hard to figure out what job will be the right fit for you—I’ve thought the same thing when I needed to make a change in my professional life. Often we think to ourselves, “It would be great if someone else could give me the answer.” Unfortunately, no one else can tell you what you consider your strengths, your passions, and your purpose. Although it takes some work to figure those things out, it can be done. Job searching is a process that can take time, especially when searching for the right job—one that’s a great fit for you and the company.

4. Being Afraid to Ask for Referrals

Asking for help is a critical part of a successful job search. However, people often fear that they are being perceived as pushy, or they are embarrassed, or they believe that most people are not interested in helping them. And to all of these, my response is “So what?” Are you more concerned about how someone might perceive you or about building your network to find a great new job? One of the simplest ways to get help is to ask people for a 15- to 20-minute conversation to get their advice. Then, in the context of the conversation, you can ask who are the one or two people they know who would be good to speak with to help you further your job search.

5. Avoiding Conversations with People Because You Are Embarrassed to be Out of Work

If you have lost your job, it will not do you any good to stay home hiding behind your computer. The most important thing you can do, whether you are out of work or actively looking for a new position, is to start talking to people who might be able to help you find your next position. Action sets you free, and things happen when you engage with other people. Make a plan to interact with a certain number of people in your personal network every week!

6. Spending Too Much Time on the Wrong Activities

People who are looking for jobs often spend time on activities that are not likely to lead to finding a new job quickly, such as perfecting their cover letters or resumes and only responding to job postings. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with either of these activities, except when they are done to the exclusion of doing the right activities—networking and meeting with people who might be able to help you find a job.

7. Talking Too Much When You Have a Networking One-to-One Conversation or Are Meeting with a Prospective Employer

Talking too much is a common problem with job seekers, salespeople, start-up business owners, existing business owners, and many others. It’s what I call “showing up and throwing up,” and it often occurs because you are nervous and believe you need to be interesting. The key is to be interested, not interesting. You can do that by asking questions and learning as much as you can about the other person. Being genuinely inquisitive and curious gives you the opportunity to build a stronger relationship with the person, and he or she will be more likely to want to help you. As Stephen Covey says, “Seek to understand before being understood.”

8. Having Difficulty Asking Questions or Knowing What Questions to Ask

Often we are afraid to ask questions because we think we are being intrusive or might ask the wrong questions. Or we’re afraid of the answers we might receive. It’s a critical skill, both for your job search and within an organization, to learn to ask questions, especially open-ended questions. As long as your questions are asked genuinely—meaning that you are listening attentively, are truly interested in what the other person has to say, and the questions are appropriate to the context of what the other person has already shared with you—you will not be perceived as intrusive or pushy. Start with some general questions that can be used in any situation. Then, by actively listening you will be able to ask what I call “peel the onion” questions to help you gain a better understanding of and more insight about the other person.

9. Not Using Every Conversation as an Opportunity to Expand Your Personal Network

The one cardinal rule when expanding your network is to ask, after every conversation, for introductions to one, two, or three people who might be good contacts to help you further your job search. Once again, most people worry that asking that type of question will seem pushy. If you approach the other person by asking for advice, as mentioned previously, most often they will be delighted to help you.

10. Lacking Confidence or Feeling Hopeless

If you don’t have confidence or believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? This is critically important to your success in finding a new job. Whether you feel hopeless or hopeful, your behavior will reflect that feeling. Keep in mind that even if you are unappreciated or not a good fit at your current company, this is completely unrelated to how you will be perceived and perform at another company that has an entirely different set of values and a different culture. In a job that is truly aligned with who you are, you will be able to thrive and make a significant contribution to that company.

Steps You Can Take Now

Now that you know some of the common job search pitfalls and mistakes, here are a few things you can do immediately to get you into action and speed up your search efforts:

• Make a list of your strengths and the reasons an employer will benefit from hiring you.

• Keep a journal and, on a daily basis, note the work activities you do that leave you feeling energized and the ones that de-energize you. After two to four weeks, review the two lists to determine what types of activities you’d like to focus on in the future.

• Based on the energize/de-energize list, get specific about the type of work you would like to do. This does not have to be defined as a specific position but should outline the activities that would be fulfilling for you on a daily basis.

• Schedule one, two, three, or more in-person (preferred) meetings or phone calls a week with people on your list, depending on your availability for the meetings, to start the process of seeking advice. The more frequently you meet with people, the closer you will get to your next job. The list can include current or former work colleagues, family, friends, and people you know from volunteering, religious participation, sports, or any other activities in which you are involved.

• At the end of each meeting or call, ask for at least one referral to someone who would be able to give you additional advice regarding your job search. Keep expanding your personal network.

• Practice asking open-ended questions for five minutes a day with a friend or family member. Open-ended questions begin with the words what, who, when, where, how, and why.

My best advice to you is to take action! I hope the ideas I’ve provided will help you find meaningful and fulfilling work in the future!

Reference

1. Adler L. New Survey Reveals 85% of All Jobs are Filled Via Networking. LinkedIn. February 29, 2016. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler .