6 biggest mistakes job hunters are making now
September 15, 2009 · Tagged with Career and Work
3. Don’t Go to the Interview Unprepared
If the company recently made an acquisition or unveiled a new product, you need to know, and be able to speak intelligently about the company’s needs and culture. “Companies loved to be loved, just as much as individuals,” Bolles said.
Another way to prepare: Come up with two or three messages you want to get across to hiring managers. Again, tailor these to match the job description, Douzet said. Why? More than one person is going to have to approve hiring you.
“These people are going to get together later and discuss your candidacy,” Douzet said. “They have to remember something about you and they have to convince each other that you are the right person to do the job.”
If you’ve presented a coherent story about your achievements and how they fit the job’s requirements, you’re more likely to be considered as a contender.
4. Don’t Confuse ‘Networking’ With Asking for Work
Networking is about developing relationships, Kay said. Contact people you know to ask for advice; don’t ask for work. Tap their expertise about their industry and company, and what advice they have for you on the job hunt.
Also, don’t ask chance acquaintances for a reference, but tap them for information on their firm’s hiring process, its culture and even the name and number of the person doing the hiring.
Networking “is developing relationships that may not have an immediate payoff tomorrow but certainly in the long run are very helpful,” said Judith Applebaum, director of career services at the University of Buffalo.
5. Don’t Treat Support Staff Poorly
Sixty-one percent of executives said they considered their assistant’s opinion important when evaluating job candidates, according to an OfficeTeam survey. “No matter how stressed you get, keep in mind that if you’re not as nice to the front desk person as you could be, that information always gets back,” Hosking said.
6. Failing to Tap Resources
Many college career offices offer their services to alumni of all ages, Applebaum said.
“At the University of Buffalo we provide individual assistance through career counseling, we have vacancy listings, resume databases that we offer to employers, job fairs [and] networking opportunities with employers and with alumni,” she said.
Also, search for local nonprofit and for-profit career-counseling agencies, she said. Along with networking opportunities, support groups can help job seekers maintain a positive attitude.
Finally, while you’re job-hunting, consider volunteering or taking a class at a local college. The experience will keep you connected and may lead to achievements that will serve you well on your resume.