If you’re looking for a change in career or a new job then you want to find a role that you can be happy in for a reasonable length of time. If you’re going to make your next job one that you will really enjoy then you need to avoid making foolish mistakes.
Here is a summary of the important mistakes to avoid:
Related: 6 Things that Jobseekers Should Avoid
1- Being Late to Apply
Use every opportunity to get ahead of the competition as 50% of successful new employees applied within the first week of the job being advertised. So being first or at least one of the first will allow your application to be considered earlier than others.
2- Not Sending a Thank You Note
Less than 10% of interviewees send a thank you note despite 91% of managers believing it would be helpful after an interview.
Check out this infographic which shows how to say thank you after a job interview.
3- Not Proof Reading your CV
Don’t let your CV leave the door until it’s been checked and double checked for spelling and grammatical errors. It’s very easy for recruiters to skip to another candidate from your application within 15 to 20 seconds. Get professional help if you are not confident about your writing.
Check out this excellent guide about how to write a winning CV for your job search.
A successful job application couldn’t be completed without a well written covering letter. Cover letters that are copy-pasted from someone else’s or simply printed without reference to the individual job you are applying won’t be very helpful for you. Ensure your cover letter is unique and shows off your writing skills with no mistakes grammatically and free from spelling errors.
4- Not Being Positive
Maintain a positive attitude throughout your job search and certainly your interview as 85% of the decision whether to hire is based on attitude.
Smile as soon as you are introduced to your interviewer, and try to smile at certain intervals (not constantly or you may look manic!) throughout.
Even if you’ve had a few setbacks, be aware that your next great job could be just around the corner, so don’t give up hope.
5- Only Relying on Job Boards
Major job boards have a success rate of just 1-4% so don’t rely on a few random online applications to get you hired. Look on niche job boards, newspapers and network. There are still many employers who choose to find their new staff from local newspapers.
6- Not Prepared to Work Away From Home
The majority of people work within 15 miles of their home, although you may need to look further afield to reduce the competition.
The Job Centre will expect you to apply for jobs up to 90 minutes travelling time away from your home, so don’t limit yourself to just your own front door as there could be amazing opportunities just a little further away.
7- Not Using Word of Mouth
The vast majority (80%) of jobs are gained via networking, so get out or online and talk to people!. Word of mouth is the thing that should never be avoided. Letting your friends know about your job hunting may help you more than you can imagine. Even if they don’t know anything at that moment you would be the first to be told when a vacancy arises at their work or somewhere else that they know.
8- Not Using Social Media
During 2012, 92% of recruiters used social media to hire, and 16% of job seekers found their job through social networking. This trend is expected to increase in 2013 so get online and create or update your profile. Social Media can actually find you a job. This has been proven thousands of times before so don’t doubt it. Open accounts on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, Google Plus and follow, like and/or connect with employers
9- Not Negotiation
18% of people never negotiate their opening salary because they were too scared on unprepared. Make sure that is not you by thinking hard about what salary you want and expect if you are offered an interview.
10- Not recognising or highlighting their skills
There are an average of 118 applications for each vacancy so you must not be shy when talking about your excellent skills. Marketing yourself is OK, there is no harm. If they don’t know what skills you have then they wouldn’t have interviewed you in the first place! Make a list of relevant skills that the recruiter may consider.
11- Don’t end up stuck on the dole forever
The average unemployed in the US spend 40 minutes searching for a job and 3 hours, 20 minutes watching TV. Make time to prepare a plan of action, and then give time to every aspect of the job application process so that doesn’t become you.
Avoid these terrible mistakes and you should be on the way to finding your great new job.
Image by: ralph and jenny
