Job Search Mistakes to Avoid
Posted in Job Search Advice
Job searches in hard economic times can be difficult. That is why job seekers should try to improve their chances when trying to look for possible job openings. Here are some common mistakes that job seekers should try to avoid.
Applying For General Openings
Most job seekers think that looking for the usual job openings may make it easy for them to land a job. But consider this, there might also be quite of a handful of other job seekers who may be looking for a similar job. That would mean more competition. Try instead to look for more specific positions that may have lesser people trying out to get the post.
Depending On Online Job Sites
Online job sites have made it more convenient for job seekers to look for jobs. It can be as simple as sending one's resume to a website that employers can check out. But relying solely on such means when looking for a job would not be sufficient. For one thing, a resume database can become quite huge and overwhelming even for employers or hiring managers to take a look at.
What job seekers can do to improve chances is by trying to also make phone calls to companies with job openings aside from using online job sites. Putting a voice over your resume when you call someone who is hiring may be the advantage that you may have over the others.
Providing Generic Answers During Interviews
Another mistake that many job seekers make occurs during the interview. Some are content on giving generic answers to certain interview questions. For example, an interviewer may ask, "What have you been doing recently?" to a potential employee. The generic answer, "I'm currently job hunting", may not be the answer that the interviewer might be looking for.
Maybe the interviewer would want to know what have you been doing to improve your current situation or if you have been taking additional classes to improve your job opportunities. If you are doing so, you might want to let the interviewer know about it. This would require more than just providing generic answers to the usual questions.
Not Being Aware Of Body Language
During interviews, a lot of job seekers tend to forget how their body language is perceived by the person on the other side of the table. The usual fidgeting can not only distract, it might also show a lot of things about the interviewee. Job seekers should always try to take notice of their body language, as subtle as possible, to make sure that they are sending the right signals to the interviewer.
