Recently I published a series of posts on how to avoid the biggest mistakes when you’re job hunting.
What I shared is based on not only my own personal experiences but also the 100s of women who’ve done one of my group coaching programmes, worked with me one-to-one or joined my Career Conversations group on Facebook.
Here’s a summary of those common job hunting mistakes that we all make from time to time.
1 – Suffering stress and burnout
The BIGGEST mistake is getting SO focused on the job hunt that you don’t look after yourself.
The end result is you get overwhelmed and stressed leading to job search burnout.
Yes it’s a thing.
And it can really knock your confidence.
Been there. Done it. Got the t-shirt. Read more here.
2 – Not using the power of your network
There is GOLD in your network.
And you are missing out on SO many opportunities if you don’t harness the power of your network. That’s exactly what men do.
Women need to do more of this too. But we get caught up in word games because we worry about being seen as ‘manipulative’.
What you forget is that people like to help – but they can’t unless they know what help you need. Read more here.
3 – Is your social media having a negative impact on your career?
If you’re actively job hunting or planning a return to work after a career break, take an objective look at your social media presence and what it says about you.
Is it all in alignment with who you are and what you do in a professional work context. If not, it’s time to sort it out. Read more here.
4 – The scattergun approach to job applications
The scattergun approach to job applications can work.
However in a recession, when there are so many talented people on the market, or in a field where you’re facing strong competition, the BEST approach is to focus on one job application at a time. Read more here.
5 – Lack of clarity on WHO you are, WHAT you do and WHAT you want
One of the mistakes that I see women make time and time again is not being clear on who they are, what they do and what they want.
The lack of clarity means you waste time applying for jobs that aren’t right.
Or you end up stuck in a role that you just don’t enjoy. That frustrates you and bores rather than gets you excited to go to work in the morning.
Lack of clarity means that you don’t present yourself in the best light – and if you’re not sure what you’re good at, how is that going to affect your confidence and your presentation? Read more here.
SUMMARY
For more discussions on this, join my Career Conversations group on Facebook.
p.s. if you’re actively job hunting, facing redundancy or going back to work after a career break, you’ll love Job Search Confidence, a 12 week structured job search programme. Get crystal clear in your job search goals and become the stand out candidate for your dream job – before you even apply! Find out more HERE.
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