4 Common Mistakes That Job Seekers Make And How To Avoid Them
Searching for a new job is hard. The process involves a lot of effort, concentration, and interpersonal communication. The mistakes one commits during a job search is irrespective of their professional and personal experiences. By far, everyone who is searching for a job commits the same mistakes making it harder than it actually is. And the aftermath of the pandemic has added more pressure for an average job seeker than ever before. However, if these mistakes are avoided, you will find a job a lot quicker than usual. Do check out these five common mistakes that job seekers make and learn to avoid them during your next job search.
1. Sending Your CVs to All The Job Postings
The common belief is that blasting your resume to every opening within your field of work will increase your odds of getting placed. But, interestingly, this practice will not increase your chances of getting placed.
With the pandemic upending most of our jobs and life, the need for you to adapt to the quickly changing landscape of the job market becomes increasingly important. Be careful while making your choice about the companies you are applying at. Make your job search strategically equipped by beginning to look for companies that offer what you require not just in terms of compensation but also work culture, opportunities at work, scope to learn and other attributes. According to Forbes a recent study found that 88% of workers wanted flexibility in their work hours and most wanted flexibility of the location from where they worked.
Map out a plan with target companies and choose a career path with a position in line with your body of work and making connections with the team in the organisation is the best way to make progress in your job search. Blasting resumes will dissipate your progress in job searches and most likely lead you to dead ends. Having a clear objective while searching for a job and making lasting connections is the right way to progress through a job search.
2. One resume is NOT enough
Imagine there are two positions that fit your body of work. Both the positions require more or less similar skills that you possess. Will the same resume be enough for applying for both potential offers? The answer is NO. Do not use the same resume for every application. Search for relevant keywords in the job opportunity posted and tailor your resume according to it. This way the recruiter can instantly match your skill set with the skills they are looking for and shortlist your profile for an interview. When a recruiter searches for candidates on platforms like Linkedin, they search using the skills they are looking for as keywords. If keywords are not added in your resume for a particular opportunity, you will be missed out even if you are perfect for the role.
3. Not Having A Strong Online Presence
Though the emergence of the internet has made it possible for job seekers to connect with their potential recruiters, it is essential to understand that the emergence of the internet has its own downside. When you submit an application for an opportunity, many others are applying for the same positions.
Make your connections on all your social media profiles from Linkedin to Twitter to know that you are looking for a new job. As you are also telling connections on Social media that you are looking for an opportunity, you have a better chance of networking with people and also their connections. Not updating your LinkedIn profile while you are looking for a job will lead to your potential recruiters thinking that you are still employed. Post or share your peers’ posts, participate in polls, interact with posts that resonate with you, ask for suggestions and make your social media presence count.
4. They Believe There Is No Need For Upskilling
Most people believe that there is no need for upskilling post landing a job. It is essentiaL to understand that learning is a lifelong process. It is essential to keep learning to stay in the trend of your industry. According to McKinsey, 70% of the fastest-growing skill worldwide by looking even to the next decade are digital skills. Interpersonal and other niche skills relevant to jobs of today are becoming just as important to combat the new normal.
Why should you have just one job?
This question might come as a surprise to most of you but think about bridging the gap with different ways to work at a time like this. With the job market turning more competitive by the minute, different ways to work such as freelancing and consulting. According to Forbes, two million Americans have started freelancing since the pandemic began. This increased the workforce percentage of freelancers to 36%. This shows that the pandemic has driven us to think differently about our job search. Invest time in leveraging your skills, knowledge of job trends and ways you can work to your advantage. Let’s talk!