Job searching stinks – we all know that. The stress, the frustration, the silence after an interview, and the waiting for the next lead, it is all just a drag. Knowing this, it is always beneficial to take the time to periodically review tips that may be beneficial, to insure little things are not being forgotten. Some forgotten things may lead to big mistakes being made that can be detrimental to the job search. Let’s look at some of the mistakes that can be made, as revealed by job recruiters from some major companies.
Poor networking: Building a network is not something you do when the time comes to begin looking for a job. Networking is a career long task that you build upon day by day, week by week, and month after month. It is establishing relationships over time. As recruiter Steven Kimball notes, “The most important thing to remember about managing your job search is having a strong network of people who believe in you. This is not developed at the time that you are in need. Always remember that part of networking is being willing to give back generously to others in your network. The more you give, the more you will get when you need it.” Many companies place a high value on internal employee referrals, so yes - sometimes it is all about who you know.
Company research: A mistake that appears to come up with most recruiters is that of not being prepared for the interview. This means that you have not done the proper amount of research on the company, and therefore come in at least partially blind to the situation. Recruiter Amy Welther states it clearly, “Research the company, know what you’re interviewing for, ask yourself the tough questions, and be prepared to answer them. You must have a full understanding of where the position you are interviewing for fits into the company’s value stream, and be prepared to offer insight into how you will help to accomplish the overall goals of the company.“ Failing to do good research will also leave you less than prepared to ask questions when given the chance – other than the types of questions you should avoid initially (like money, benefits, etc.). Failure to ask questions when the opportunity arrives is usually looked at as a negative thing.
Being too comfortable: This is another one that popped up often with many recruiters. The interview should remain professional, even if you are on a more familiar footing with the hiring agent. Do not share too much personal information; do not become too loose and casual, even if the hiring agent makes you feel as if it is okay. If the interview takes places in a more casual setting, like over a meal, avoid things like alcohol and other less-professional habits. Avoid falling into comfortable conversation that leads to trash-talking previous companies or co-workers. And properly dressing for the occasion needs to be remembered too. “With today’s casual environments, people think they can dress casual and present themselves that way. You need to be—and look—sharp on an interview,” states recruiter Mitchell Schneir. How this looks in practice will of course differ depending on the company and type of position being interviewed for, but dressing for success is a great motto anytime.
Enthusiasm and body language: The job search is tough, and it takes a lot out of you. If you have been at it for any length of time, it can make you feel down trodden, and that depressive attitude can come across in the interview. Approach each interview with renewed vigor, and let the enthusiasm, energy, passion and excitement show in both your speech and actions.
Honesty: Embellishing on your résumé can come back to haunt you and is never a good idea. Once you have that information “out there” in the professional world, it can get around. Companies contact other companies for reference at times, and information can be passed, and that erroneous information can resurface. One recruiter recalls a story of a candidate that had made it through all the levels of other meetings and interviews for the company, and was the prime candidate for the position. However, this recruiter was the final one in the chain of steps, and realized the name sounded familiar. He went back and found that he had indeed interviewed this person a few years prior. Upon comparing the prior résumé to the current one, the discrepancies were blatant. Missing, changed, and clashing information was evident, and it cost him the position.
Goals: Know what you want to do - have a goal, both a short and a long term one. Know how the position you are being interviewed for fits into those goals, and be able to articulate to the hiring agent why you and your goals are best served by the position and the company in general. Having no goals can make you come across as one who is just trying to find their way in life, and that kind of attitude is often frowned upon by a hiring agent.
Interview and résumé tips are always good to go over to tweak things during your job search. Nexxt offers many articles to help in this area, and taking a “refresher course” by reading through them often can keep you focused on the goal.
Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitialPhotos.net
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