On Wednesday May 12, 2010, 11:08 am EDT
If you're job hunting you're surely aware of the most egregious and common no-nos: showing up for the interview ten minutes late; answering your phone during the interview; handing over a resume riddled with typos; using a silly-sounding E-mail address; failing to demonstrate you've researched the employer; bad-mouthing your last boss; neglecting to follow up. You're not doing any of that, are you? Of course not.
[See 15 essentials to getting hired.]
But you may not have considered some of the less-discussed, under-the-radar issues. Give this list a look and ask yourself, "Do any of these sound like me?"
1. You have unreasonable expectations. Everybody wants the perfect job. But if your criteria are too high, if you're being too demanding, you may well remain unemployed. Nobody wants to be told to compromise, but the fact is that much of life involves just that, at least temporarily. Analyze your wants and needs. Which are must haves? Which are negotiable? Which can be put on hold?
2. You're relying too much on one search technique. Maybe you are only applying online, or only networking, or only using employment agencies, or only approaching companies that you know are hiring. Don't limit yourself to just one job-search method. Try them all. Cast a wide net, continue to build your connections, get creative.
[See 10 new rules for today's job hunt.]
3. You use the word "I" too often in your cover letter. The most effective way to endear yourself to potential employers is to put the focus more on them than on you. Show you've done your homework and understand what your target companies are seeking. Then tell them how you can fill those needs.
4. You are not demonstrating long-term potential. We get caught up in the moment. We need a job now. But employers, the good ones at least, tend to think long term. They want to know not only how you will contribute today but in the future, too. That "Where do you see yourself in five years?" question is not just for drill. They really want to know.
5. You are unknowingly repeating mistakes. After interviews, are you taking the time to review and analyze them? Many times the reason you don't get a job is beyond your control, and, in fact, has nothing to do with you, but not always. Trying to understand why the answer was "No" may help you to fine tune your approach.
[See the topics you can't discuss at work.]
6. You have not rehearsed. You may hesitate to rehearse answers to the most common questions. You don't want to sound canned. You want to be yourself. But consider the benefits of creating great answers to those questions you hear the most--short, vivid, three-sentence answers brimming with examples and facts--and practicing them until you can speak with conviction and confidence.
7. You put your job search on hold while waiting to hear back. Don't we all fall into this trap at one time or another? You've had a super couple of interviews with your dream employer. You just know you're going to get "the call" any day now. You think, I'm going to hold off until I hear back; after all, I deserve a little break. Well, no doubt you do deserve a little break--but don't. Keep on networking, applying, interviewing, and researching until you have a firm job offer in hand.
Looking for work is an enormous project. In many ways it's more difficult, and takes more energy, than even the most demanding job. So, in the midst of it all, find a way to nurture yourself. Keep on fine tuning and strengthening your approach. And hang in there.
Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.
I recently discovered an old email that my Dad
had written me way back when.
Though the cause of that stress has since passed,
so much of his ingenious wisdom applies--and yet
another reason why I just adore him.
Ahem..
My first piece of advice is not to let other
people's opinion of you effect how you feel about
yourself. Your best response is to step back
from the dramatic tendency to pass and fall
victim to judging/ the judgment of others.
Confronting people on why they frustrate or
hurt you doesn't always benefit, as you are
simply revealing to them what they already
have seen, yet most likely choose to ignore
in themselves.
I remember long ago that I tried to provide
feedback to people who we terminated or who
were leaving. I felt that it was my obligation.
It never worked and typically would make them angry.
Anger probably inhibited their growth at their next
job where they would have a chance to reflect on
a past experience. I know that some of them came
back later and apologized for not being a very good
employee. That was, however, something that they
had to find out on their own. No feedback that I
would have given would have helped.
There is a contamination factor by hanging around
negative people and rather than wasting time on
picking who and who not to trust, focus on those
who appreciate you for all your qualities. There
will always be people like that around and you
cannot avoid them totally. People are quick to
advise you to on any and everything, yet you will
find they seldomly hold themselves to the promises
they make.
As Chopra would say you must relinquish all
resentments and anger you have toward another and
recognize that they are doing their best given
their own personal state. That takes the sting out
of the ill-will generated and lets you pursue your
own personal growth. It means that you are more
receptive to positive things that surround you since
your energies are not tied up in dealing the next
blow.
We must also realize that we create our own stress
by our reactions to events around us. If others
choose to stir up drama, I would acknowledge ill
that has been spoken, while giving nothing to feed
off of. In the greater scheme of things, daily
interactions and drama carry little weight when
compared to the truly rewarding experiences of life.
Love,
Dad
