Ten Job Search Mistakes

You don't get it: You've scoured the Internet for jobs. You've
blanketed the market with your résumé. You've sent a basic cover
letter with every application. Why isn't anything happening?

While simply submitting your application materials and waiting for
an opportunity to fall in your lap might have been enough to land a
job at one time, the frustrating reality of today's job market makes
that type of job search impossible. Instead, today's job seekers
must go above and beyond if they want to stand a chance at landing a
great opportunity.

Competing for work requires full engagement but generates
significant momentum, says Jim Villwock, author of "Whacked Again!
Secrets to Getting Back on the Executive Saddle." But many job
seekers get distracted in their searches and get frustrated when
they don't see results right away.

"Initially, it is overconfidence that the process will be easy and
[that] time should be carved out for family, sports and other
activities that were neglected when working. The opposite is true.

Getting a job is usually more work than being employed," Villwock
says. "The core mistake is not procrastination, not working on a
résumé or not going to a networking meeting. It is not knowing the
process and working the plan to get the job that you deserve."

Here are 10 reasons your job search might not be succeeding:

1. You aren't networking

No one can help you find a job if you they don't know you need it.
Your friends, family and previous employers all know someone who
knows someone, so utilize their knowledge and connections as you
look for work.

Additionally, make yourself (and your job search) visible on social
and professional networking sites like BrightFuse, Facebook or
LinkedIn. According to a survey by Robert Half International, 62
percent of executives think professional networking sites will be
useful while searching for candidates in the next few years. Thirty-
five percent of respondents said they would use social networking
sites as a recruitment resource.

2. You're skipping the cover letter online

For some reason, people can't get used to the idea of submitting a
cover letter online, so they just skip the step altogether. Wrong
move, people. Your cover letter is your chance to make a good first
impression or address any inconsistencies on your résumé. When
sending your application via e-mail, your cover letter serves as the
body of the e-mail and your résumé is attached.

3. Your cover letter is generic

Now that we know you have to send a cover letter, the next step is
making sure that it's not generic. You need to tailor each letter to
a specific job and person, while clearly identifying the aspects of
your background that meet the employer's needs, says Ane Powers,
managing partner at The White Hawk Group, a career management firm.

"Your cover letter is your ticket to the interview. The ticket is
voided and placed in the 'thanks, but no thanks' pile if it doesn't
scream, 'I am a perfect fit for this position,'" she says.

4. You're procrastinating

Oftentimes, when we don't see the results we want, we get frustrated
and worried. After applying to so many jobs without hearing
anything, you just don't have the energy to update your résumé,
write a targeted cover letter or follow up with a hiring manager, so
you put it off until tomorrow, then the next day and the next day.
But why put off until tomorrow what can be done today? Your dream
job is not going to fall from the sky, so continue to endure and be
proactive in your search.

5. You're searching for jobs only on the Internet

While job boards and company Web sites are a great starting place to
find a job, the majority of open positions are never advertised,
Powers says. Communicate with people who can help you: Human
resource managers, recruiters and successful professionals will all
be key in discovering new opportunities.

6. You're not doing your research

This might be the most basic piece of job advice out there, yet some
people still choose not to follow it. Executives polled by Robert
Half said 25 percent of candidates didn't have any knowledge of the
company or industry to which they're applying.

Things change every day in business, especially in today's market.
It's important to know of any changes going on at the company where
you're applying. If you are applying for work in a new industry, do
some research to prove that you can be a valuable addition to that
field.

7. You're blanketing the market with your résumé

"Attractive candidates demonstrate strategic marketing. Blanketing
the market with your résumé demonstrates desperation and lack of
strategic thinking," Powers says. Don't send résumés to every single
job opening out there. Identify the organizations that meet your
requirements and go from there.

8. You're not following up

Too many job seekers assume that if they haven't heard back from an
employer, it's because they've been shot down for the position.
While that may be true, there is also every possibility that your
résumé never made it to its final destination or it got lost in the
flood of submissions. Eighty-two percent of executives say
candidates should contact hiring managers via e-mail, phone or
personalized letter within two weeks of submitting their résumés,
according to Robert Half. Just contact the hiring manager to say
that you wanted to confirm your application was received and ask if
he or she needs anything else from you.

9. You have too many distractions

Try to focus on only your job search for a couple of hours each day -
- don't check your personal e-mail, make phone calls or surf the
Internet (unless it's for jobs).

"Conducting a job campaign is a full-time job. As with any job, to
achieve results, one needs to set goals and develop an action plan
to achieve the goals," Powers says.

10. You don't ask for the job (Those who attended our
Interviewing Techniques class will remember this slide)

Many candidates are shy about being too outspoken or upfront about
their desire for the job, but many hiring managers will be impressed
with your candor.

"Employers are looking for candidates who are excited about the
position," Powers says. Be forward and ask for the position by
telling the interviewer why it is a good fit for you and the
organization.