5 easy mistakes to avoid when job hunting

Are you in job hunting mode? Or thinking about it?

If that’s you but you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed or you’ve been looking for a while, and you’re worried you’re getting it wrong, you’ll love this article today.

I am going to share the 5 easy mistakes to avoid when job hunting.

These are the same mistakes I see ambitious women making over and over.

They’re the same mistakes that have been talked about in every one of my Career Conversations in January.

(By the way Career Conversations is a taster of what to expect inside the Career Club, the online membership community for women who are job hunting. To get involved come and join the pop-up Facebook group).

5 easy mistakes to avoid when job hunting

1 – Lack of clarity on your skills and strengths

One of the most common problems that women come to me when they want to fast track their job hunt, it’s because they lack clarity about their own skills and strengths.

They’re not sure what it is they do that’s a) enjoyable and b) valuable.

It’s important to get clear on what you love doing (and what you don’t love too).

Very often we can’t see the wood for the trees. So if you’re not sure about your skills and strengths, ask friends for feedback.

Think about the skills that come easily to you. What strikes you as common sense?

This is where to start when you are job hunting – get crystal clear on your skills and strengths.

2 – The scattergun approach to job applications

When you’ve finally decided to do something about the fact that you’re bored and fed up at work, or that you need to go back after a career break, it’s far too easy to take the scattergun approach and apply for everything!

I know – I’ve been there and done that far too many times.

Instead go back to no 1 (clarity on your skills) and think carefully about what you love doing and what you want from your next role.

Think about what’s most important to you in terms of location, type of employer, type of role and then you won’t waste time (and energy) firing off applications left, right and centre.

Focus, focus, focus.

3 – Dodgy social media

Come on, you must know by now that just about every recruiter and hiring manager will be checking you out on social media.

Which means that if you talk non-stop on Twitter about the latest developments on Love Island, you’re just not going to be taken seriously as an IT Business Relationship Manager. Harsh but true.

Make sure that your social media profiles are in alignment … in particular your LinkedIn profile needs to match what you put on your CV and in your job applications.

If you haven’t touched your LinkedIn profile in ages, at the very least pay attention to the 7 essentials on LinkedIn.

4 – The rush job application

When you find a great job in a fab location with the right salary expectations, go back to no 2.

When you stop the scattergun approach, you will have more time to properly invest in each job application.

Make sure you tailor your CV and the cover letter to the specific application.

Look at the job description AND the person specification and make sure you reflect how you meet these in your application.

Research the organisation. Who do you know who works there (LinkedIn is great for finding 1st and 2nd connections).

Rush the application and you rush to fail.

5 – Focus on nothing else except job hunting

Be careful not to spend all day every day focused on nothing but the job search.

Remember to take a break and prioritise your self-care so that you remain positive, confident and refreshed.

There’s no point turning up for an interview if you’re completely shattered from the whole job hunting process. You won’t be able to give your best.

Take a break and you’ll have more energy and you’ll build the resilience you need for the (almost inevitable) rejections you’ll face along the way.

As my client Kate said

Job hunting is a challenge. But the sheer amount of effort, time and brainspace is the biggest challenge.

Steer clear of these 5 easy mistakes when job hunting

When you’re fed up at work, it’s tempting to rush into job hunting without a clear idea of your skills.

The scattergun approach might work … but you’ll get results more quickly if you get clear on what you want and not burn out applying for jobs left, right and centre.

Make sure your social media profiles won’t let you down.

Take your time over each application.

And most importantly take care of yourself.

p.s. if you like my straightforward practical approach to job hunting, you can get my personal advice, guidance and support so that you find the right job at the right time inside the Career Club.